Manor Farm opens for a new season, as volunteers receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
As Cogges Manor Farm opens for spring, volunteers of the Cogges Heritage Trust celebrate The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Volunteers received the crystal award with the QAVS insignia from Mrs Marjorie Glasgow BEM, Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire in a ceremony held on Saturday 11th February 2023, as the farm re-opened to visitors. The Award is the equivalent to an MBE, and the highest a local voluntary group can receive in the UK – visit Cogges this season and see why!
Thanks to an impressive 16,000 hours of volunteer support time over the last year, it’s fantastic to welcome visitors back. This year is all about getting together, and Cogges is open every day during the open season. Cogges entry price has not increased in 2023, and remains great value! Visit as often as you wish during open season with a Season Ticket, with discounts on special events throughout the year. Coming up, enjoy a Cogges Cream Tea in the Café for Mother’s Day, and visit for Easter family activities and crafts in the holidays. That's not all, adults can learn a new skill and try arts & crafts, Yoga, organic gardening, wild foraging, or wool spinning, as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund supported programme. Make memories with friends and family, or enjoy some quality ‘me-time’.
On the farm
New arrivals, two Sandy & Black VIPs (Very Important Piglets), ‘Lavinia and Anchor’, are visiting till March; say hello before they go back to their own farm as breeding pigs. Look out for craft and cooking activities in the Manor House on Saturdays. Pick up a Cogges Explorers bug pot and ID guide, and hunt minibeasts in the meadow. With friendly animals, outdoor play areas and 17 acres of open space to enjoy, create your own adventure!
Café and shop
Cogges Kitchen café & shop opens daily from 9am, no ticket needed. Cogges shop is full of gift ideas and locally-produced goods, from homeware to gardening tools, or try Cogges honey, straight from the garden bees. See artwork and crafts on display by local artists and talented volunteers.
Community projects
The staff and volunteer team are busy running community projects thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. A Land Management traineeships with young people aged 16-25 helps to maintain the grounds, and Walk, Talk and Tea is an initiative to encourage socialisation and build confidence in isolated, older people – a highlight of the week! Have you been a season ticket holder at Cogges, been to any theatre events or even got married on the farm? Get in touch and share your memories to contribute to our Witney Remembers oral history project: contact Laura at learning@cogges.org.uk.
Top: photo by volunteer, Cereta Drewett
Below: photo by Ed Nix, thanks to the Witney Gazette, Oxford Mail & Times (read article).
