Welcome to Cloncannon Biofarm which is located on the beautiful western slopes of the Devils’ Bit mountains in Tipperary. We are firmly committed to the principles of organic food production and we strive to enhance the natural habitats on the farm. We share our knowledge and always welcome the suggestions and experiences of the visitors. Visits are by ‘appointment only’ and we specialise in catering for groups. Our Mission is to engage visitors to the farm in activities that inform and stimulate their interest in healthy soil, animals, plants and society. Through hands – on participation the visitors can make a greater connection with the various wildlife habitats and species. They can explore the farmland built heritage features and also listen to the stories associated with each site. The theme which forms the foundation to the different tours offered on the farm is ‘Care of the Earth’ and ‘Sustainable Living’. For Primary School groups we tailor the programmes to match the requirements outlined for the Science/Geography/History curriculum. The teacher can also pick from a menu of outdoor learning activities, such as, Pond Dipping; Native Tree Trail; Wildlife Gardening: Composting: Plant Identification; Soil Science; Food Webs; and more. Educational focus
Secondary school students can investigate habitat characteristics and species strategies for survival. They can engage in activities relating to their ecology studies such as plant and animal species identification, quadrant studies and percentage occupancy/cover. They can learn about ecosystem services, sustainable development/global issues and care of the earth. Transition year students will be challenged to think critically about how humans use the earth resources. They will debate their own potential impacts and work in teams to formulate better solutions to be communicated to others. All are welcome at Cloncannon Biofarm we very much enjoy working with groups from across various sectors of society. To-date these have included Active Retirement Groups, Macra na Feirme, Women in Farming, Farmer groups, Youth Development/Scouts, and Tidy Towns to mention just a few. The tours/activities which these groups were engaged in seems to have stimulated enthusiasm and a sense of connection to other people and the beautiful web of life that is around us everyday.
