Teachers from Berkshire schools will be ‘on the farm’ on Monday 8 May 2006, when they visit Waltham Place Farm near Maidenhead. 

The on-farm experience for all Berkshire teachers is organised by Berkshire Food Group, with the aim of encouraging more teachers to take school children to farms and learn about where food comes from.

Meg Hart, from Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) is working with Val Turner from Waltham Place Farm to create an exciting and informative afternoon. “In our experience many teachers who want to introduce farming and the countryside to children, don’t have time to find out where the appropriate farms are. This event will give teachers a taster of the sort of activities they can expect to find on educational farms, how these link with the National Curriculum, and how to prepare for a farm visit with school children,” explains Meg.  

Teachers who would like to take part in this event can contact Meg Hart on 01494 562716 to book their place.

Waltham Place Farm near Maidenhead has been welcoming school trips to the working organic farm and gardens for many years. Rupert Aker of the Soil Association described the estate as, “an excellent venue for educating school children and the general public about organic production and environmental issues.”

Berkshire Food Group will publish a list of educational farms in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire that welcome school trips.

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Further information:

Wendy Tobitt. Berkshire Food Group PR on 0774 864 1452

Meg Hart. Farming and Countryside Education (FACE). 01494 562716 and e-mail: meg@face-online.org.uk