News
No more feeling sheepish about visiting the countryside – Kids encouraged to ‘Find the real Shaun’
The Year of Food and Farming is encouraging parents to take their children out into the countryside this spring to find the real Shaun the Sheep as part of a national competition called ‘Find the real Shaun’!
In partnership with Aardman Animations, the campaign is inviting children to spot a Shaun the Sheep look-a-like and upload their images onto The Year of Food and Farming website
‘Find the real Shaun’ is an ideal opportunity to visit the countryside over the springtime and to find out what happens on a farm. Research commissioned by the Year of Food and Farming shows that one in five children between 8 and 13 years old, never visit the countryside and a quarter of 8-9 year olds are yet to come within touching distance of farm animals such as sheep, cows and pigs. This research also illustrates however, that there is a very real connection between the opportunities children have to interact with the countryside, and their appreciation of the food chain. For example, two thirds of children with rural experiences are interested in where their food comes from, and only 40% of children who never visit the countryside care where their meal started out.
Children who enter the competition will have the chance to win exclusive framed stills from the Shaun the Sheep series, signed by the Series Director Richard Goleszowski and a free family ticket to visit a national farm attraction.
Tony Cooke, Programme Director of the Year of Food and Farming, said:
‘It's fantastic to have Shaun the Sheep on board with the Year of Food and Farming. The Year is all about children learning about where their food comes from and how it's produced through inspiring first hand experiences. The sad fact is that children are now far more likely to go on a foreign holiday, collect a takeaway or go to a restaurant than they are to ever visit the countryside. This competition will give families a really good reason to have a fun day out in the countryside and hopefully learn something new too’.
The competition is open to 5-12 year olds and entries must be submitted by June 8th 2008. A list of farms to visit over spring can be found at www.farmattractions.net or on the Year of Food and Farming Megamap