Oaklands Park

 

4 apprentice places (2 garden, 2 farm)

Contact : Miriam Schoen (garden) Nicolas Reyneke (farm)

Address: Oaklands Park Camphill Community, Newnham-on-Severn, Glos., GL141EF

Tel: 01594516550 (garden), 01594516285 (farm)

Email: oaklandsgarden (at) googlemailcom

 

Tutors: Miriam Schoen (garden) Nicolas Reyneke (farm)

 

Oaklands Park is a Camphill Community with adults, some of whom have special needs, caring for the environment, work, economic and social life and further education. The community is situated on the western bank of the River Severn, on the edge of the Forest of Dean, near the village of Newnham. It is home to about eighty people living in 8-9 extended households and is based on 160 acres of land comprising:

-          32 acres of woodland

-          110 acres of grazing/hay/arable farmland

-          5-7 acres of horticulture

-          5 acres of soft fruit/top fruit

-          6 acres of park/ estate

The farm supports a herd of 20 shorthorn dairy cows with followers, 30 sheep, 130 chickens and pigs. As well as supplying our own community and fruit through a small local box scheme and to some retailers as well as the local country market. The community is very concerned with waste water treatment operating several aquatic waste water treatment plants..

The community offers a practical training in biodynamic horticulture, agriculture and fruit management, with an emphasis on land work in and for communities. We currently support 1 apprentice in horticulture and 2 apprentices on the farm. As we recognize the fundamental importance of the social and spiritual ideas and attitudes underlying the well-being of all agricultural activity and, consequently, our culture and civilisation generally, we expect a willingness to full involvement in all aspects of the community from prospective applicants for the land training.

 

 

Miriam Schoen   I am 29 years old and originally from Berlin, Germany. I have been the gardener in Oaklands Park since june 2010. I completed my 2 year biodynamic land training course in Oaklands Park in 2006. After that I worked in different biodynamic and organic farms and gardens in the Uk and in Ireland and have been travelling a bit.