Educational livestock project offers schools across Norfolk and Suffolk a unique hands-on experience.
The Food and Farming Discovery Trust teamed up with Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership and Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association to help young people learn once again about livestock. This hands-on opportunity offered schools the chance to look after ewes and their lambs at their school, for one whole week. The project, sponsored by Clan Trust, is aimed at giving children, ranging from Early Years to Sixth Form, the chance to learn about animal husbandry and to engage schools in food and farming education.
Fourteen schools across Norfolk and Suffolk took part in this project from Monday 21st March to Friday 25th March; Carleton Rode Primary School, Caston Primary School, St Martha’s RC Primary, King’s Lynn, Fred Nicholson School, Dereham, Aldborough Primary School, Hickling C of E Infant School, Coltishall Primary School, Valley Primary Academy, West Earlham Infant & Nursery, The Clare School, Harford Manor School, The Wherry School, Red Oak Primary School, Lowestoft and Gunton Primary Academy. With the project reaching over 2400 pupils.
This year Gail Sprake, from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the FFDT Board of Trustees was the driving force behind the project, liaising with schools and farmers to ensure the success of the project. Gail was overwhelmed with the level of response and as expected, the project was once again oversubscribed.
Dr Shannon Woodhouse, Trust Manager of the Food and Farming Discovery Trust, says:
“I am thrilled have joined the Food and Farming Discovery Trust in time for the 2022 Learn About Livestock Project. We believe this exciting opportunity offers pupils the chance to witness farming first hand and provides them with a rewarding learning experience, whilst offering teachers a unique way to deliver parts of the curriculum. With the positive feedback we received previously, we are delighted to have been able to extend this opportunity out to more schools within Norfolk and Suffolk, to allow even more children to participate in this memorable learning experience.”
This year the sheep were kindly provided by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust East Anglia Support Group, which includes Jordan Stone & Beth Chapman, Melsop Farm Park, Gail & Michael Sprake, Meens Farm, All Saints, Halesworth, Dameon Layt, Salhouse, Tricia & Les Newman, Carleton Rode and Briony Mackenzie, King’s Lynn.
Julie Hatfield, from The Clare School who have taken part in the project previously, says: “Being able to experience the sheep first hand, with no physical barriers. Our blind, visually impaired and most complex children were able to feel the texture of the lambs, their breath, warmth, facial features and parts of their body which helped them to more fully understand what a lamb is. Our more formal pupils gained a greater understanding of the needs and life cycle of animals and what animal products are used for. Being able to actually experience this opportunity in real life is the greatest benefit.” Read more about The Clare School’s experience here.
Matt Frost, from Harford Manor School who is a new participant in the project, says:
“Here at Harford Manor, we are currently engaged in a whole school topic all about ‘farming’ so participating in the Learn About Livestock project creates a perfect opportunity to quite literally, bring our learning to life! For our younger pupils, or those with more complex needs, time spent interacting with the sheep helped to develop confidence, reduce sensory aversions and for many, their love of animals or engagement of the experiences the project provided was clear.”
The project was once again well received by schools, with all participants saying they would recommend the project to other schools and that they would like to participate again, should the opportunity arise. Read more about Aldborough Primary School’s experience of the project here.
This project forms part of the Food & Farming Discovery Trust’s wider programme of events and initiatives run throughout the year, which help promote focused educational learning about food,