This is an exciting opportunity for schools to extend their ‘out of classroom learning’ agendas through ‘Food, Farming and the Countryside’ 

Lincolnshire enjoys a rich farming heritage, yet evidence suggests that many pupils have little understanding of food, food production, land use and the ways of the countryside. This initiative aims to help pupils gain an insight into the farming world through supporting schools in undertaking off site visits to sites linked in various ways to agriculture.  

An increasing number of farms are now able to host school visits through the ‘Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) which gives farmers a good grounding in the educational and health and safety implications of school visits. 

The Lincfarms bursary has been set up to support schools by signposting them to sites and venues that can offer a worthwhile educational experience, either as a day or residential venture, and at the same time possibly offer a degree of financial assistance, particularly for schools in challenging circumstances. 

The bursary is the idea of Charles Welby, former High Sheriff of Lincolnshire who works tirelessly to raise funds for the project and promote its aims to as wide an audience as possible. Several schools have already enjoyed such visits during the last two years and one school, the ‘trial run ‘ for the residential element of the project is now gearing up for its third such stay in an agricultural setting.  

Currently, opportunities to extend this residential element of the bursary are under development but in the meantime, day visits are being encouraged, with immediate effect, to farm locations in various parts of the county. Financial assistance may be available to help schools to cover all, or part of the transport costs for example. 

Any school wishing to take advantage of this rare opportunity of an independent body offering financial support for off site visits, should in the first instance contact the Outdoor Education Adviser from whom further details will be available. In order to be considered for a grant from the bursary, schools will be asked to submit simple details about the purposes of the intended visit, numbers and ages of pupils involved and show how the curriculum will be enriched by the visit. This link will take you into the application form.

September 2007 also sees the start nationally of ‘The Year of Food and Farming in Education’ the overall aim of which is to involve all children and young people by engaging them in food, farming and the countryside. Both DEFRA and DfES are supporting this initiative and the LincFarms bursary will provide excellent opportunity for schools to become actively involved in realising the year’s aims. 

For further details please contact Ken Round, Outdoor Education Adviser ken.round@lincolnshire.gov.uk