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THE CROWN ESTATE WELCOMES CHILDREN FROM SURREY AND BERKSHIRE TO WINDSOR GREAT PARK

9 June 2004

The Royal Farms and The Crown Estate held an educational Open Day at Windsor Great Park on Wednesday 9 June 2004. The children saw and experienced the huge range of skills and trades necessary to keep Windsor Great Park in the magnificent condition that it is.

More than 1,500 school children, who ranged from 7 to 11 years old, came from schools in Berkshire and Surrey.

The day’s programme included displays and shows for the children throughout the Great Park, covering the many aspects of the estate. These included:

The Farm
The children experienced sheep shearing, cows being milked, and the feeding calves and lambs. A horse drawn plough was on hand, as well as static displays of cropping on the farm, arable produce and their uses, farm livestock and cattle feeds.

Forestry
There was a woodland trail to explore, with information on tree identification and nature conservation, the production of timber and its products, and a demonstration of modern forestry machinery.

Parks
The Crown Estate staff were on hand to demonstrate their range of skills, from knowledge of the history of the Great Park to the rigours of tree surgery. They explained the uses of their machinery, and gave practical demonstrations in the techniques of sports field maintenance, the management of trees and nature conservation.

Gardens
They were illustrations on the propagation of plants from seed to maturation, and of plant identification, plus displays of mulching and other garden machinery.

Buildings
The Crown Estate bricklayers, sign writers, decorators, carpenters, plumbers and blacksmiths were all on view to promote their skills and trades.

Transport
There were demonstrations of the machinery and its maintenance.

Game
Management of the red deer herd was explained, there was a demonstration of dog handling, ferrets were on display, and even the control of vermin drew its interested listeners!