Natural England

GCSE students from Castle Hills School in Gainsborough will be spending the first of two days at a local farm on Wednesday 7 May to find out where their food comes from as part of the Natural England East Midlands School Challenge.

Stephen and Meryl Ward, who farm the land and run Uncle Henry’s farm shop at Grange Farm, Grayingham, will take the geography students on 7 May, with the food technology students visiting the following week on Wednesday 14 May. The students will be shown some traditional farming techniques and exploring how good farming practice preserves and enhances the natural environment.

From their visit the students will undertake a curriculum related project and they will explain their findings to an invited audience later in the summer. Also included in the visits is an opportunity to see how food is produced, make their own sausages and buy food from the farm shop which they will use to prepare their very own meal back at school to complete their challenge.

Geoff Sansome, Natural England Regional Director, said: “This is one of six challenges planned for the East Midlands region which are being coordinated and funded by Natural England for the Year of Food and Farming. The challenge aims to give children and young people direct experience of food production, farming and the countryside in a fun and interesting way.“

Keith Ollerenshaw, Geography Teacher from Castle Hills School, said: “Visiting Uncle Henry’s and Grange Farm will be an exciting opportunity to expand the knowledge base of our pupils and show them how farming and food production can take place whilst preserving the environment.”

Grange Farm was selected for the 'challenge' as it is part of Defra's Entry Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme and has received funding for several habitat conservation actions.

More than 4,200 farmers in the East Midlands who have signed up for Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) and Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) since March 2005 are receiving more than £20 million funding per year.

Funding is not restricted and is available now to all eligible farmers and land managers in the East Midlands. A variety of 50 options are available and farmers can choose those which suit their farm and business.

Note to editor: Photo/interview opportunities will be available at 9.30 am and 12.30 pm on Wednesday 7 May or Wednesday 14 May which must be booked in advance. Please call Gaby Hateley at COI on 0115 971 2797 to arrange.