Pupils from a Bedfordshire school will get the chance to watch lambs being born as part of a year-long campaign promoting food, farming and the countryside.
Thirteen pupils from Ridgeway School, Kempston are visiting Home Farm at Shuttleworth College on Wednesday (20 February) for an event organised as part of the Year of Food and Farming.
The visit is a joint venture between Shuttleworth College and Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) to raise the profile of the campaign and to encourage more schools and farmers to get involved.
The Year of Food and Farming aims to promote healthy living by giving children direct experience of food, farming and the countryside. Launched last September, it will see farms opening their doors to school groups, pupils growing fruit and vegetables, and special events taking place across the region.
Ridgeway is a purpose-built school for children with physical disabilities and caters for pupils from a wide area of the county. As well as watching the lambing, the pupils will be handling animals from the college’s small animal care department during their visit.
County organiser Anne-Marie Hamilton said: “There is tremendous enthusiasm for the initiative among everyone involved and we want to see links forged with schools which will last long after the Year of Food and Farming is over.”
Farmers, food producers and schools who want to get involved are being urged to register on the campaign website, www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk
Notes to editors
-Reporters/photographers are welcome to come along to the event between 10.30am and 11.30am on Wednesday.
-Further information is available from Anne-Marie Hamilton on 01480 212772.
-Organisations supporting the initiative in the East of England include the National Farmers’ Union, the Country Land and Business Association, Go-East, CERA (the Centre for Environment and Rural Affairs at Writtle College) and FACE (Farming and Countryside Education). It is receiving funding from EEDA.