Town kids find country on their own doorstep
Town kids find country on their own doorstep
Children from the London Borough of
Hounslow found the countryside on
their doorstep recently and had a
wonderful time learning about it in a
most enjoyable way. Tessa Gates
joined the kids at Syon Park
THEY came in crocodile lines and in coaches, in uniform and out – 2000 children from infants to A-Level students keen to see, touch and learn about all things rural. Their enthusiasm was tangible and with work sheets and projects to fulfil there was no stand uninvestigated at Countryside Live – a country fair staged specifically for schools by the charity Countryside Foundation for Education.
Livestock susceptible to foot-and-mouth could not come to the capital, but the children seemed happy to "milk" the cut-out dairy cow on the NFU stand and were fascinated by day-old chicks and newly-hatched pheasants. They also loved the beagle pups and hunt terriers and picked up the illustrated leaflets from the Countryside Alliance explaining the importance of hunting, shooting and fishing to the rural economy.
They found out what gamekeepers do, how a fishing fly is tied, how a hurdle is made and where their food comes from and what crops are used for. They saw a little history re-enacted with horse-drawn implements, were entranced and some a little frightened by swooping birds of prey and delighted by ferrets racing and sheepdogs rounding up geese.
Teachers, who were briefed on the preview night to the event, set tasks for the children to complete at the show and will draw on the subjects covered in class work.
Top marks to the Duke of Northumberland for allowing the event to be held at Syon Park and to all the people and organisations who gave their time and effort to bringing the countryside to life for city children.
Hard hitting stuff: Blacksmith Clive Mockford and a pupil from Worple Primary, Isleworth, take their hammers to some hot iron nails.
Hands on or just looking, learning was never so much fun for the 2000 children who visited Countryside Live.