We are always looking for opportunities to extend our offer so that children and young people have lots of different context to learn in. We have had great success with the addition of our bees, orchard, chickens and most recently school dog Milo.  When we had the opportunity to adopt some new animals we didn’t hesitate to say yes! Tortoises Tommy and Beau are making themselves at home at Willow Dene and have recently featured in their first staff briefings. They will soon be on display in their daytime run outside the premises officer’s house at Swingate Lane and timetabled to spend sessions in classes helping children to encounter animals and learn how to respond and care for them. What’s next? You might notice some fencing happening around our orchard area ready to make a home for three pygmy goats who have also been donated to us.  They will be keeping our orchard in order and become a learning opportunity for children and young people across the schools.