Visits to farms
Farming is important to all our lives. Farmers produce the food we eat and look after the countryside that we visit. A visit to a farm can provide great opportunities for learning across the curriculum and it can also be a memorable, fun experience for people of all ages and abilities.
The organisations listed below are keen to promote understanding of food and farming in schools. They provide downloadable resources for teachers and search facilities for locating farms that provide safe and educationally worthwhile visits for school groups.
This is a government programme which aims to encourage and inspire all school (nursery, primary, secondary and special) to use the outdoor classroom, both within and beyond the school grounds, as a context for learning across the curriculum. It focuses in particular on food, farming and the countryside and has a 'find a farm' facility.
Farming and Countryside Education (FACE)
The aim of FACE is to educate children and young people about food and farming in a sustainable countryside. This site has a 'find a farm to visit' facility plus resources for teachers including Why Farming Matters - downloadable resources on farming for primary and secondary teachers
Farms for Schools aims to ensure that school visits to farms are safe, enjoyable and educationally worthwhile. All FFS members meet the required standards in the provision of facilities and educational resources for farm visits. This site also has a 'find a farm to visit' facility.
The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming. This site has a 'find an organic farm to visit' facility plus educational resources for teachers.
Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)
LEAF is committed to a viable agriculture which is environmentally and socially acceptable and ensures the continuity of supply of wholesome, affordable food while conserving and enhancing the fabric and wildlife of the countryside for future generations. Find a LEAF demonstration farm to visit.
Yorkshire and Humber ESD Forum
This website contains a wealth of information for teachers and other practitioners relating to education for sustainable development in the Yorkshire and Humber region. This link takes you to website resources for teachers relating to sustainable food and farming.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Launched in 2008, this website provides resources and guidance for teachers and practitioners in how to plan safe and high quality experiences outside the classroom for children and young people.
