Teachers at London schools are being encouraged to take part in the Year of Food and Farming using allotments and city farms as a way of introducing children to food and countryside issues.
Speaking at the London Launch of the YOFF in Brixton on Thursday (6 December), government adviser Sir Don Curry said there were so many children in the capital that it was vital that efforts were made to reach them.
"In London, it is unlikely that we will manage to get every child into the countryside - although we have to at least try. But if it is not possible then we are determined to take the message to schools and encourage young people to try growing things."
Sir Don said he had visited a school in Wigan which had very little outside space, but teachers were getting the children to grow potatoes in two car tyres stacked on top of each other.
The children were amazed that by planting one potato they could harvest over a dozen, he said. "They were inspired by the experience and there is nothing to stop us doing that in every school."
Simon Jarvis, head teacher at the Rangefield School in Lewisham, explained how his primary school had taken over some local allotments so they could teach the children about growing things.
The children spend half a day every fortnight on the allotment and it was a chance for them to work as team, learn about nature and get dirty, he said. This gave them a great deal of satisfaction and an insight into life as a farmer.
Jenny Jones, chair of London Food, a body set up by the Mayor of London in order to deliver a London Food Strategy, said that there were 400 farms in London so there were farms for children to visit.
She also announced the appointment of a dedicated food and farming coordinator in order to help promote the YOFF in the London area.
The YOFF is a campaign to help children find out more about the countryside and where their food comes from through memorable, first-hand learning experiences.
Throughout the year, farmers, food producers and lots of other organisations will be offering up a bumper crop of ideas and events, information and teaching materials for participating schools.
Farmers Weekly ran a Kids Connect campiagn to help prepare the industry for the YOFF. For more information and advice see our dedicated Kids Connect Website.