Wheat Education Programme – Turning our farms into classrooms
Many people in disadvantaged inner-city communities don’t get the opportunity to get out into rural areas and learn about the origins of food. So in 2017, we launched a new project in partnership with our British farmers, Frontier Agriculture, and The Country Trust (a national educational charity), to provide the opportunity for young people to head into the countryside and learn all about wheat and where bread comes from.
The project focuses on giving primary school children the chance to visit their local farms and explore the growing process, from the importance of water and wildlife to the sampling of soil. It also gives them the chance to see what a farmer does every day. It’s a hands-on learning programme connecting children with farming and the food we eat, through farm visits and through farm-centred, in-school learning.
The programme not only helps to educate families, but it also allows our wheat farmers to connect with their local communities, build stronger relationships and encourage people to think about the long-term future of farming.
All the visits are co-ordinated by The Country Trust, who work with our Farmers to identify local schools to take part. The visits are offered to schools with a higher than average percentage of children eligible for Free School meals (currently 25.9% is the national average) mapped against CT Coordinator presence and participating farmers.
Farm in a Box
In 2021, we expanded our programme and developed our wheat-focused Farm in a Box. The boxes contain all the resources and activities to bring the farm to life in classrooms across the country. All resources are provided free to schools and also include the opportunity to ‘meet’ a farmer through our live sessions, giving the children the opportunity to ask lots of questions.