Farm visits open children’s eyes to rural opportunities

Children from across the south of England are discovering farming and food production careers through hands-on visits at Goodwood Farm, as its Education Trust celebrates 50 years of outdoor learning.

Based on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, the trust focuses on connecting young people with the natural environment and sustainable agriculture, particularly those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.

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The visits place children directly within a working farm environment, where they encounter livestock, observe milking in progress, and take part in practical activities such as butter-making.

Catherine Cannon, trust manager, says the experience helps children connect familiar foods with their origins. “You can see kids making connections during their visit,” she says.

“They start thinking about the Weetabix they had for breakfast and how that was made and where the wheat was grown, and the milk they poured in, coming from the cows they met.”

Ms Cannon adds that the sessions present an accurate impression of modern farming.

“We try not to shy away from the full picture of rearing livestock,” she says. 

“We talk about the environmental impact, welfare, ethics, and water usage.

“This is a large-scale working farm, not a petting farm; it’s a place for children to learn.”

First experience

For some children, the visits provide a first experience of open countryside.

One inner-city primary school teacher says: “Some of these children only ever go to school and the shops and never really venture outside the city.”

In 2025, about 3,000 children and young people took part in Goodwood’s education programmes across the farm and surrounding woodland.

Data from the trust from 2025 shows that 100% of schools reported that pupils gained new knowledge and understanding during their visits.

In addition, 88% of students tried something new, while all pupils were reported to have developed an understanding of the link between farming and nature.

On a journey 

Goodwood is one of the largest organic farms in the country, with a dairy that produces four types of cheese sold in its farm shop.

During visits, children are introduced to these processes, following the journey from raw ingredients to finished products.

Alongside practical learning, the Education Trust introduces visitors to a wide range of roles within agriculture and related industries.

“Children often only know what they know. We pride ourselves on giving them an insight into a career they might not have even thought about,” says Catherine.

“We try to touch on many elements of farming, not just ‘being a farmer’.

“We teach them about all of the roles they might be able to do to help put food on the table, from shepherding to solar installers, from engineers to agronomists.”

The organisation also works with older students through careers events in partnership with Linking Environment and Farming, signposting routes into agricultural employment.

The benefits of a farm visit

School visits are tailored to support curriculum topics, ensuring that learning objectives are reinforced through practical experience.

Teachers accompanying visits have reported increased engagement among pupils.

Year five teacher John Baker says: “It’s great for the kids to get hands-on and see a working farm.

“We really value the opportunity for them to see and learn about where their food comes from and the importance of eating healthily.

“It definitely sparks an interest in some of them around farming.”

For pupils, the experience often leaves a strong sensory impression.

Tangmere School visit to Goodwood Farm © Johnathan Swann

Leaning over a pen to watch a newborn calf take its first steps, nine-year-old George from Tangmere Primary School says: “I have really loved getting out and seeing all of the cows.

“The coolest bit is seeing how they are being milked because I like drinking milk.

“I will remember the smell of the silage, and now I know what it is used for with the animals.

“I’m really excited to bring back the wheat seeds we were given and water them at school to look after them and watch them grow.”

Staff working on the farm also observe the impact of the visits.

Issy Dommett, joint herdswoman at Goodwood, says: “Kids often come here because they are struggling at school, and when they arrive, they are completely different.

“Being on the farm shows them a new way of learning.

“They see the process of making the food they eat. The best way to learn about careers in the farming industry is being on a farm.

“Seeing the kids come around and ask questions and showing them what they could do in the future is great.”