Schoolchildren enjoyed a different kind of lesson today when they visited a Summerbridge farm to learn how food goes from the field to the dinner plate.
The children visited Birchfield Ice Cream Farm as part of a new initiative from Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
The society launched the Farm to Fork campaign to teach the younger generations about farming, food and the countryside.
The children, from Ashfield Primary School in Otley, enjoyed a trailer ride around the farm as the Whitley family, who run the farm, explained how they look after animals.
The children also got to see farm’s cows, pigs and hens up close as well as visit the farm’s dairy parlour to see how ice cream is made.
Sarah Whitley, of Birchfield Ice Cream Farm, said:
“We’ve loved hosting Ashfield Primary School with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and hope the children have come away with a real insight into how farmers produce food and look after their animals and crops.”
The children meet the animals.
Ben Nowell, class teacher at Ashfield Primary School, said:
“As a teacher, we try to teach the children to make the best choice they believe in with the information that they have.
“We believe it is important for children to understand where their food comes from and how it is made so they can make informed, healthy decisions for themselves.”
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Today’s visit is one of several organised throughout the year. The campaign was launched by the society during last year’s first lockdown.
Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the society, said:
District parents “delighted” as schools reopen next week“It is so important to educate new generations about where their food comes from and our Farm to Fork visits are great opportunities to do exactly that.
“Yorkshire has such a wonderful farming story to share and the earlier we can get this message across to children the better.”
As schools across the district prepare to return next week after more than five months away, some parents have said they’re “delighted” to know their children can return to classroom learning.
Coronavirus forced schools to close in March leaving most children to continue learning from home. Parents in the district have also spoken out about their worries over the educational impact further delays could have.
Schools will look different next month, with ‘bubbles’ in place and regular hand sanitising to prevent transmission.
Laura Berryman, from Bilton is sending her twins into year three next month. She said:
“I am 100% ready for them to go back. They are both excited to see their friends, we are feeling prepared, we’ve been told what to expect by the school hopefully it’ll all be fine. The small risk of getting it is outweighed by the impact of what they could miss out on. I don’t want them to go backwards, the thought of them at home any longer scares me.”
James from Harrogate is sending his son into year 10. He said:
“I’m delighted he’s returning to school, it couldn’t come soon enough. I’ve been disappointed with how the school has handled it. He had little work until three weeks before summer. The school had no idea how to use the technology and that made it more difficult, I don’t know why it was made out to be so difficult. I just hope the schools are using common sense to manage covid, the kids wellbeing is paramount. He’s excited to get back and speak to his friends it’s massively beneficial to have that social interaction.”
Kids walking to school will be a common sight once again as schools gear up to put measures in place.
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Some schools are yet to announce how school buses are to go ahead raising further questions for parents.
Nicola Crebbin has twin boys going into year nine. She said:
Children sign up for free online classes created by Harrogate business owners“I am ready for them to go back. I have no worries about health risks but it would be good to know more regarding procedures and transport. I am slightly concerned that the children’s education may be held back waiting for others who didn’t (or couldn’t) engage in education during lockdown to catch up, time will tell. Both prefer remote school to being in school, less distracted by other children and lack of peer pressure enabled them to be more creative. Although they did find the work set a little dull.”
Parents across the Harrogate district are being offered a helping hand to keep children of all ages entertained.
From pre-school groups sending out video activities to school children gaining skills from new sources, generous local professionals are offering free support to parents struggling to fill the days with something educational.
Photographer Charlotte Hedgecock is usually at her busiest in the spring and summer months, capturing people’s wedding days on camera. During the week, her work is mostly commercial, including photographing client homes for a kitchen company. Under social distancing rules, however, her diary is completely empty.
“Two weeks ago was meant to be the first wedding of the season,” she said. “I’ve had five rescheduled so far, some for later this year and some for next year.
“I’ve still got four booked in for May, then four or five in June, and the same in July and August. I don’t know what will happen with those yet.”
Charlotte Hedgecock, right, usually spends her summers capturing wedding days on camera
Rather than worrying, Charlotte decided to fill her time by setting up a series of free online classes for budding young photographers. Each week, she will release one lesson via her Facebook page, challenging students to improve their skills in different ways. The whole course will last for ten weeks. She said:
“I thought this could help people if they’ve got children at home. Everybody’s got a camera phone. It’s good to get them thinking about something more creative and learning about the technology.”
Music online
For Karen Allen, who has run Singamajigs classes for pre-schoolers for the last 15 years, the move online didn’t come naturally.
Used to running her music classes in village halls or at the Kidzplay soft play centre in Harrogate, the idea of trying to recreate something professional for people to join at home was at first daunting.
Singamajigs classes usually involve a lot of interaction for children and parents
“I wasn’t going to do anything,” she said. “You see all these people on the television who are so good at it – how do I compete with that?
“Then I was talking to one of my mums and she said, ‘we just want you, because my daughter knows you’.”
Karen has opted not to charge for the classes she has run so far, but may introduce a pay-as-you-feel system in the coming weeks. She recognises that many people are in financial difficulty, but still need to have access to activities for their children. Her priority is keeping a sense of community, even from a distance.
“Parents are connecting with me because they just want to know it’s OK,” she said. “Some are really struggling and you can hear it.
“For me, as long as we survive financially, it’s not about charging, it’s about keeping the community I’ve had for many years together. It’s about staying safe and staying connected with the families I know.”