01/7/08

Setting up educational visits on your farm

Three workshops will be held in mid July to give farmers a chance to find out all about inviting schools on to their farms. The courses, which are organized by FACE Wales with funding from The Cooperative, will also give farmers a taste of the Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS).

‘Schools are really waking up to the value of taking pupils on farm visits - they can illustrate just about any aspect of the curriculum, from science and geography to the history of farm buildings, business studies and tractor design, but it's particularly good for children to be outdoors and to learn where their food comes from,' said FACE Wales coordinator Jane Powell. 'It's important for farmers too, to connect with the local community and tell consumers what farming is all about.'

The half-day courses will be held near St David's, Pembrokeshire, and at Bangor University Farm on Tuesday 15 July and at Lakeside Farm Park, Bridgend, on Thursday 17 July and they are free, though places must be booked in advance. They will cover the latest changes to the curriculum, ideas for activities that can be carried out on farms, talking to teachers and children and all the practical aspects such as health and safety, hand-washing and insurance.

Farmers who would like to take it further will have an opportunity to sign up for a two-day CEVAS course next winter, after which they compile a portfolio of materials (in Welsh or English) which leads to accreditation by the Open College Network. These courses are run by FACE Wales and so far around 40 people have been trained.

The school curriculum in Wales was revised recently. It emphasizes sustainability, including the natural environment, health and consumer choices, and encourages children to learn from the real world outside the classroom, and to gain skills rather than learning facts.

To book a place, contact Jane Powell on 01970 622248 or e-mail jane@face-online.org.uk. 

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Further information:

Jane Powell, FACE Wales, Organic Centre Wales, Aberystwyth University, Tel. 01970 622248, e-mail jane@face-online.org.uk 

Notes for the editor

1. FACE is a registered charity (number 1108241) that was established in 2001 to help school pupils learn about the real business of farming and maintaining the countryside. See www.face-online.org.uk. 

2. FACE Wales is coordinated by Organic Centre Wales in association with local delivery partners and works with all types of farm. For more information see www.face-cymru.org.uk. 

3. More information on these events is at www.organic.aber.ac.uk/events 

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