Scheme to teach children about farming celebrates 17th year

Louise Wallace presenting the award

A project involving Somerset primary schools has been teaching children about food, farming and wildlife since 2008.

The Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS) is organised by The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) South West.

Louise Wallace, the coordinator for the project in Somerset said: “The children learn about wildlife and the link to farming to connect them to the natural world.”

“If just a few of the children retain a lasting passion for nature, the Kingfisher Project has done its job.”

Students from Ash Primary School which won an award

The scheme was first started by Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes, in Devon in 1992.

Now more than 900 children a year take part in the project across the South West.

Primary schools from Ash, Kingsbury Episcopi, Priorswood, Spaxton and Williton were chosen to take part in the Somerset KAS this year.

Catherine Gibbons, a teacher at St Peter’s Primary School in Williton said: “I think it’s really good for our students to be involved in something like this to make them aware of their environment.

“Williton is a deprived area. Many of the children live near the coast but have never been on a beach before.

“They’ve learnt about the lifecycles of animals they’ve never heard of and also about where their food comes from.

“Most of the children assumed that the food just ended up on the shelf and actually it’s farmers in the local area who might supply the products that make those basic foods.”

The Kingfisher award encourages children to learn about wildlife

The schools took part in field days over one week in May at Home Farm, owned by Henry and Richard Lang in Curry Rivel.

During the field days the children were taught about crops grown on a farm and the processes by which they are turned into food.

They were also taught about the variety of wildlife that lives in the Somerset countryside and what can be done to protect these habitats.

After the primary students completed their field day they then had six weeks to create a display based on what they had learnt.

The students from the five schools returned to Home Farm on 10 July to show off their displays and present their work to the judges.

'Very proud'

The Somerset award this year was won by Ash Primary School.

The judges made their decision based on originality, imaginative input, factual accuracy, creativity and relevance to what they had learnt on the field day.

Students from Ash were presented with the Kingfisher statue, a cheque for £100 and copies of the Ted Hughes book, How the Whale Became and Other Stories and Where my Wellies Take me.

All the schools taking part also received copies of the same books and certificates.

Hannah Leslie, the teacher at Ash Primary School who oversaw the project said: “I feel very proud as their teacher.”

“The children have learnt to respect and understand the environment around them and the importance of protecting it for future generations.

“What is more valuable than that?”

Michael Brown was the first person to start KAS and run it in Somerset in 2008 and still works as a volunteer for the project each year.

He said: “I’ve met people who were with us in 2008 and they’re still interested in nature.

“I think Kingfisher is an event that can light a spark that can last all their lives. It’s very special.”