Animal Magic

Two young volunteers from Wythenshawe Community Farm blazed a trail at this summer’s agricultural shows.

Between them they won over twenty rosettes, including special awards for young handlers.

At the beginning of the season Pete Hampson and Cameron Fuller, both aged seventeen, were each given a heifer to look after from the Farm’s speciality Hereford Cattle. On show days they arrived at the Farm at half past five in the morning to prepare the animals, Ellie May and Diamond, before travelling across the region to both local and large county shows.

As well as success in the show ring, the young farmers have also achieved academically this year, passing their First Diploma in Agriculture with flying colours. Their hard work has paid off with Cameron starting as an Animal Technician with an agricultural college and Pete being taken on as an apprentice at the Farm.

The Farm has been a mainstay in Pete’s life for the last three years. Growing up in care, he was disillusioned with school, dropping out in Year 10. He says: ‘Things turned around for me when I started volunteering at the Farm. It’s kept me out of trouble. I like the calm atmosphere and learning about the animals.’ Pete came out of care a month ago and now has his own flat.

Cameron has been a long term volunteer at the Farm, starting at the young age of eight. At weekends and the school holidays he would go to the farm and help with cleaning and feeding.

Alan Massey, Farm Manager, says: ‘It’s great to be able to give these young people the opportunity to work on the farm and gain qualifications. They are both local lads and a credit to Wythenshawe. They have put in a lot of hard work and deserve the recognition.’

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council said: “The farm plays an important role in the life of the community, both for visitors but also in terms of education as we have seen here. We’re all extremely proud of both Pete and Cameron and their achievements and I wish both of them the best of luck with their promising future careers.”

Pete and Cameron’s success has also been welcomed by the Real Lives image campaign, which aims to challenge outdated and negative perceptions of the Wythenshawe area through facts and first hand accounts from local people, and are delighted that the hard work and achievements of these two young men have been recognised.

Wythenshawe Community Farm which celebrated its 25^th anniversary in August, one of Wythenshawe Park’s most popular attractions, opening every day for free. Produce from the Farm can now be tasted in the Park’s Courtyard Tearoom every day from 11am and also bought directly from the Farm. Tel: 0161 946 0726

Cameron Fuller and Pete Hampson are pictured with one of the farm’s heifers, Ellie May