Summer Holidays 2025 – Connecting Young People with Nature

At Solidarity Farm, we’ve always believed that small is beautiful, and that real change often happens at the edges—whether in nature, at the foreshore, or in society, where those on the margins can hold perspectives that open up new ways of seeing the world.

Solidarity Farm was established to work with young people who struggle within mainstream education. Alongside this, we offer educational farm visits—mainly for special schools—and holiday camps supported by the Ministry of Education for children eligible for free school meals.

This summer, we welcomed 240 young people aged 6–12 to our holiday camps across 16 days in July and August. Most of our activities take place in our forest school area, where children quickly immerse themselves in new adventures: building dens, hunting for bugs, and crafting from natural materials.

For the first time, we asked children to leave technology at home. At first, many compared the experience to Minecraft, but soon they carried that creativity into the woodland—imagining infinity portals and reimagined kingdoms. One session’s highlight was the discovery of a toad, sparking delight and a new sense of connection with the wildlife that shares our space.

Children joined us from across Northumberland, bringing a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Many would not normally have crossed paths, yet here they forged friendships, learned skills, and created memories together. We continue to see how time in nature supports wellbeing: those who struggle with anxiety often find it easier to engage when given freedom in open, natural spaces. Shared challenges and discoveries create moments of communitas—a sense of belonging that can be hard to find elsewhere.

We feel privileged to walk alongside these young people, learning from them as they reawaken our own sense of wonder in the natural world. Already, we are looking forward to the next school holidays, when the woods will once again be filled with curiosity, laughter, and discovery.

John Harrison

www.solidarityfarm.org.uk