News from Stotfold Mill

News from Stotfold Watermill

Our Education Team

The Articles of Association pf the Stotfold Mill Preservation Trust state that its Objects include: ‘maintenance of the working mill …for the education and benefit of the public. ’ and ‘management of the nature reserve and the education of the public in the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the flora and fauna’ Consequently, one of the most important of our volunteer groups is the Education team. With a dozen members, many of them former teachers, the team offers an exciting range of experiences and learning opportunities to parties of children. Recent school visits have been Year 1 from Roecroft Lower School, who particularly enjoyed grinding their own flour to take back to school with them.

Early in July, two classes from Year 3 at Bassingbourn Primary School spent a whole day visiting both the mill and the nature reserve. Whilst in the mill, they not only learned how the mill turns wheat grain into flour and oats into porridge but they also spent time with hands-on experience of building systems of gears similar to those driving the mill machinery. During their time in the nature reserve the pupils were able to complete activity sheets related to the wildlife they observed and to make leaf rubbings from the brass plaques along the paths. It is hoped that freedom from Covid risks next year will allow many more schools will take the opportunity to bring classes to the mill. We appreciate that the cost of transport can be prohibitive for some school trips out but we are able to offer a whole day of activity and learning experiences at a very much lower cost than most places that groups might visit, whist tailoring the theme of the day to the topic that the teacher is covering. Other parties of children coming to the mill are often members of scouting groups, such as cubs and brownies, when we can focus the visit on the requirements of particular proficiency badges. We already have two cub packs booked to come pond-dipping in early September.

Members of the Education team also organise activities for children ages 5-11 during the summer holidays. Details of these can be found on the mill website at www.stotfoldmill.com/category/childrens-activities. Although they are possibly fully booked at this time, names might be added to a reserve list. Many Sunday afternoons when the mill is open members of the Education team are present in the Ivel Room at the top of the mill with games and activities for children including the opportunity to dress up as a traditional Victorian miller or his wife.

If any grown-ups are envious of the opportunities that we make available to children, it should be pointed out that we are always prepared to take bookings for guided tours of the mill by organised parties of adults. These are preceded by a visual presentation about the history and restoration of the mill and can always be booked to include a cream tea or other refreshments. Details of booking a tour can be found on our website. Wildlife lovers can visit the nature reserve at any time but we are hoping to offer the opportunity of a pond-dipping session for adults or an evening bat walk. Watch out for details on the website or our social media pages.

THANK YOU EVENING

At the end of June, the Trustees held a social evening to thank all the volunteers who have helped at the mill during the year. We understand that a few of our volunteers did not receive an invitation to the event. We offer our most sincere apologies for the omission. This can only have occurred if you have been a volunteer but your name is not on our email data base – our only method of communication to our many helpers. if you believe this might be the case, please let us know by sending your email address to volunteersupport@stotfoldmill.com. If you are not currently one of our volunteers but might consider joining on of our teams please visit our website to find out more about the opportunities we offer. Conditions treated include spinal and extremity injuries, neck related headaches and sprains/strains.

We are NOW OPEN Our revised opening hours: Tues: 2pm-7pm Wed: 10am-7pm Thursday: 3pm-7pm Friday: 10am - 1pm Saturday: 10am-2pm