Early July witnessed over 2000 students across Surrey and Sussex from 52 primary schools take part in an incredibly exciting and educative trip to the 13th Connect with the Countryside event held at the South of England Showground.
It was organised for year 5 and 6 students as a part of a charitable educational remit by the South of England Agricultural Society. The students were introduced to a variety of activities, displays and challenges based on food, recreation, wildlife, horticulture and livestock.
The 2019 event was divided into different sectors on the showground. Its focus was on the production of our food and how it’s done, as well as the significance of farming in the countryside.
The livestock zone allowed students to meet several varieties of farm animals, which include baby chicks, Llamas, ferrets, donkeys, Sussex beef bulls, and sheep. It helps gain a better understanding of how these animals are bred and used for various purposes like maintaining the crop levels and providing the food that ends up on your table.
In the food and horticulture part of the showground, the focus was on healthy food and how the products they consume are grown and manufactured. It was incredibly exciting for the children as they were able to get hands-on experience in making the food they’re usually restricted to eating or drinking. They were offered to get on special smoothie bikes and make fresh fruit smoothies from start to finish. They also participated in making cheese from scratch, kneading dough to make bread, and churning butter.
There was an added focus on making children aware of the specific tastes of our food, including the varied taste and look of different peppers. The students also learnt how sausages are flavoured.
The wildlife and recreation zone introduced students to weaving and spinning, gun dog training, hedge laying, conservation, making dolly with corn, horse racing, fly fishing and forestry. They also got an opportunity to explore a giant combine harvester. The students were then shown a presentation on different types of sheep, show jumping, a bird of prey display as well as pony polo demonstrations.
Carole Hayward, chair of the charity’s Education Committee and Deputy President of the South of England Agricultural Society, put forth a statement that said,
“Sadly, in today’s technology-led society, there are still so many children that simply don’t know where their food has come from, how their woollen jumper is made, or even how the world existed without the internet or computerised machinery. Some surveys even show that one in five children believe milk comes straight from the fridge or supermarket and that cows drink it rather than produce it, while cheese comes from plants, pasta comes from animals, tomatoes grow underground, and fish fingers are made of chicken1.”
“The whole point of our Connect with the Countryside event is to support the national curriculum and ensure we are doing whatever we can as an agricultural charity to build understanding among pupils and teachers. We offer this as a free event to primary schools across the South, giving their pupils an exciting and interactive educational day out where they learn through stimulating play and discovery, taking away vital information and inspiring them to actually connect with the countryside.”
“Our 13th event was a huge success and it was wonderful to see so many children at the showground exhilarated by all the things they were learning and experiencing with their peers. A big thank you to all our countryside exhibitors and volunteers who gave up their time so generously to help the future generation alongside us. Here’s to 2020!”