Connecting Children in the South of England with the Countryside
For many children, knowing where their food comes from is still a mystery; and the rows of produce lining the supermarket shelves are still not associated back to their place of origin.
So two thousand three hundred children aged ten and eleven, from 51 schools across Sussex and Surrey, visited the Ardingly Showground this month to discover more about where their food comes from and all aspects of rural life.
At the seventh Connect with the Countryside Day, pupils and their teachers had a brilliant day in the sunshine gaining a better understanding of countryside issues, thanks to over 100 volunteers from the South of England Agricultural Society.
“I think it's useful for the children to see how food is made because they don’t actually know where it comes from.
Mrs Lewis from Globe Primary in Lancing
Four special zones included Livestock, where children met a range of farm animals, from Sussex Beef bulls to chickens; Horticulture and Food, where children learnt about healthy food, tasting local tomatoes, fresh milk and honey and discovering how sausages, bread and butter are made; and two Wildlife and Recreation zones also offered important countryside topics, such as nature conservation, forestry and countryside sports.
The Sheep Show, which included sheep shearing, a Pony Club display and a Birds of Prey demonstration also delighted the children.