Farmers help bridge the gap with general public (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Farmers help bridge the gap with general public

4:40pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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FARMERS in South Lakeland are helping to bridge the gap between the farming community and the general public by helping to educate young people about what goes on behind the scenes of agriculture.

As part of its own efforts, award-winning organic dairy farm Low Sizergh Barn, near Kendal, invited a toddler group to the site where they were given a unique look at the organic hens and the production of their organic eggs.

At the same time, several other farms in the region have been taking part in Natural England’s One Million Children Outdoors programme, revealed that just 24 per cent of children visit a patch of nature near their home on a weekly basis, compared with 53 per cent of adults who visited a local nature patch weekly when they were young.

To address this disparity, Natural England’s programme has sought to dramatically increase the number of farm visits by school-aged children, funded through green farming schemes.

One of those taking part is Holme Open Farm, near Sedbergh, which is run by David and Angela Metcalfe, who will welcome school visits and families, with tours of the farm giving children chance to touch, hold and feed as many different types of animal as possible including baby lambs.

The stock is mainly sheep and suckler cows as well as a few hens, chicks, goats, pigs, rabbits and the working sheep dogs.

Mr Metcalfe said: “All our visitors love holding and bottle feeding the baby lambs. Stroking the goats and their kids and sometimes being nibbled by them always produces shrieks of laughter.

“Feeding and holding the tiny chicks amuses even the most timid of children and the ducks, geese, pigs, pony and kittens are also there for everyone to meet.”

Alison Park, a partner at Low Sizergh Barn, also believes it is important to encourage youngsters to take an interest in farming.

She said: “I often find that when a child knows more about where the food is from, they are much happier to try new things.”Leading the visit was Pauline Sprott, a qualified teacher, based at Growing Well, a charity located on Low Sizergh Farm, added: visits around the site. “I love showing children where their food comes from and watching their little faces light up when they see a hen up close.”

Liz Newton, Natural England’s north west director, said: “Having contact with nature is important for everyone, but it is especially important for our children. Whilst many skills can be gained in the classroom, others can only be learnt through direct contact with nature and the sorts of experiences that these farm visits provide.”

To find a farm taking part in the Natural England scheme, visit www.naturalengland.org.uk