Natural England

Eighteen GCSE students from Highfields School in Matlock will be spending a day at a local farm on Thursday 8 May to find out where their food comes from as part of a Natural England challenge.

Mandy Gilman, organic farmer at Hearthstone Farm in Riber, will take the food technology students on the first of two tours, to show some traditional farming techniques and explain how good farming practice preserves and enhances the natural environment.

They will return to the farm in the summer 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 organic meal back at school to complete their challenge.

Geoff Sansome, Natural England Regional Director, said: “This is the first 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.”

Sheena West, Food Technology Teacher from Highfields School, said: “Visiting Hearthstone 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.”

Hearthstone Farm was selected for the 'challenge' as it is part of Defra's Organic 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.

Rescheduled event

Note to editor: Photo/interview opportunities will be available at 9.30am or 11.30am on Thursday 8 May which must be booked in advance. Please call Gaby Hateley at COI News & PR on 0115 971 2797 to arrange.