Website helps farmers host school farm visits

Three countryside organisations have joined forces to help farmers host educational visits from schools.

Called Visit My Farm, the initiative brings together Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF), Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) and Natural England.

The goal is to provide farmers with online resources, ideas and information needed to host farm visits from school children and their teachers.

Bill Graham from FACE said the initiative aimed to meet the “constant demand” by schools for educational farm visits.

“It is a very effective and enjoyable way of teaching the pupils about the food they eat and how farmers care for the countryside.

“Visit My Farm offers a valuable resource for anyone who wants to get involved.”

Natural England chairman Poul Christensen said farm visits helped youngsters discover the links between food, farming and the countryside.

“Farm visits are a great way to allow children to get close to nature and be shown how their food is produced and the important work farmers do to protect the countryside.”

The website includes templates for introductory letters to schools and posters that farmers can display in local educational offices, libraries and village halls.