Poppies Farm Hurst | Care Farming, School Visits & Family Walks

Safe &
Inspiring Environment

Nestled in the heart of Wokingham, Berkshire, Poppies Farm is a family-run haven where traditional farming meets wellbeing and education.

Run by Steve and Jo Robertson since 2005, the farm is home to a happy mix of Rare and Minority native British breeds - from pigs, sheep, and cows to ponies, goats, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, and rabbits.

At Poppies Farm, we believe farming should nourish both body and mind. Jo has spent over 30 years working with children and animals, and since 2018, she’s shared her passion for nature and nurture through farm-based wellness sessions for local schools and groups.

Whether you’re joining us for a wellness session, a family farm walk, or to enjoy our homegrown meat, every part of Poppies Farm is rooted in care, community, and connection to the land.

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Our Services

Education

Poppies Farm proudly supports local schools across Berkshire by providing on-farm learning opportunities.

Children gain practical experience in animal care, learn about the rhythms of farm life, and discover the benefits of responsibility, teamwork, and connection to the natural world.

Depending on the season, students may meet lambs, calves, piglets, and chicks - helping them understand where food comes from while enjoying the calm, grounding presence of the animals.

SEND & Mental Wellness

Our farm provides a safe, inspiring environment for children and young adults with or without special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), SEMH, EBSA and NEET pathways.

Through hands-on experience with our animals, we offer structured, supportive sessions that help build confidence, social skills, and emotional wellbeing.

Special Educational <br>Mental Health Image

Special Educational
Mental Health

We are currently working with many local primary and secondary schools who have their students attend the farm for various reasons. Some schools have livestock seasonally situated within their grounds. Children are shown how to care for the animals and experience the many well being benefits of being around nature and animals. They also learn to appreciate responsibility and take pride in their work.

Care Farm NEET

Visits are tailored to you and your requirements. Children work in small groups of up to 4, of various ages. Adults work along side the children in the day to day tasks on the farm. They can learn to work effectively, negotiate and compramise with their group and have a sense of belonging and pride in what that they accomplish.

Farm Visits Available

Select farm visits are now available for School Term Holidays

Farm Walks are available at Summer 2026:

Wednesdays & Thursdays: 10:30am-12:30pm
Saturdays: 10:30am-12:30pm

One family of up to 5 people per visit per day
Advance booking required

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Family of Farmers

Poppies Farm has been in the family since 1972. It was part of a much larger farm owned by Jo’s father. When the original farm sold in 1988 Poppies Farm land was retained by the family and Poppies Farm was born!

Steve

Farmer Steve is a builder by trade, has built our farm infrastructure and as you will see it is still growing! In his tractor he is his happiest keeping the balance between nature and farming ensuring that the grass is grown to feed next years animals and sustain the delicate balance of making hay and
grazing animals.

Jo

Jo runs the day-to-day care of the animals and leads our SEND and wellness sessions. With decades of experience teaching and working with children and animals, she brings heart, patience, and purpose to everything we do.

Lilli

Farmer Lilli is the farms right hand! Still attending Berkshire College of Agriculture, Lilli helps out with all aspects of farm life when she can. She has her own flock of North Ronaldsay Sheep and is very involved in the Lambing season. In the haymaking season Lilli is invaluable, driving the tractors, trailers and telehandler, a real farmer’s daughter.

Gemma

Our most recent recruit, joining the team in 2025. Gemma brings calm and focus to our every day. She is in charge of the day to day animal care along with Farmer Jo. She is also involved in the sessions along with Farmer Lilli. Having recently taken her Tractor tests, she will become Steve's right hand woman in the fields next summer!

Anna

Following on in Lilli's footsteps, Anna joined the family in January 2023. She very quickly became key in the Herdwick breeding programme and on the showing scene. In the Summer months, Lilli and Anna are out and about with the show sheep most weekends earning trophies and rosettes for their endeavours.

George

George brings a business mind to the family operation, balancing his university studies with helping on the farm.

Prices to
suit every
budget

Homegrown Beef,
Lamb & Pork

At Poppies Farm, we’re proud to produce high-quality, high-welfare meat from our native British breeds - including Dexter, British White, Hereford cattle, Herdwick , Soay, Boreray and North Ronaldsay sheep, and British Lop and Berkshire pigs. We have also crossed our Dexter cows with Wagyu to produce some intensely marbled larger beef cuts.

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Pedigree Dexter Beef

Wagyu Beef

Heritage breed Lamb

British Lop Pork

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What Customers
Say About Us

Being at Poppies Farm has given me so much experience and has opened me up to a new world of farming. It has showed me that it was is definitely not for the weak, but you and Steve have shown me that it's possible and what a beautiful farm you have made. You've given me new friendships with Ed, Emily, Lily, Luke and Emmy, which i'm very very grateful for! I'll never forget my time on the farm or the organised chaos of the children. I'll definitely be back! Lots of Love,

Daisy

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and the whole team! I honestly cannot get over how far George has come since starting at poppies farm! Before George joined, they barely left their room and had no contact outside of the house! Now they have made a friend (well predicted) and formed connections with peers and adults! George looks forward to their Wednesday all week and jabbers away all the way home! I cannot tell you how happy and emotional it makes me to watch that! I have my George back! What you do is amazing, I know it can't be easy but what a phenomenal thing to do and what a huge difference you make for so many families. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! See you in September! Love fay+ family,

Fay

Thank you for running the farm and letting us all be part of it! It has helped me to be happier, trust people more, and helped me look after my pets as well! Wednesdays are the day I look forward to the most! And I love being part of something where I can make friends and really help out.

George

Thank you all so much for everything you have done for Chester. Although his time with you has sadly come to an end, his time with you when he needed you the most was so important, and we're very grateful. You've got on amazing facility a Pappies farm that really helps children struggling at school. Long May it continue, and good luck for the future

Andy + Cherry

I will Miss you So much! The farm has been such a safe space for me and I have grown so much because of it. I have enjoyed spending time with you and everyone else at the farm so much and l would like to thank you for that.

George