4:00pm Tuesday 10th February 2009
Farm visits have been instrumental in helping a Pembrokeshire school gain a prestigious award.
Pembroke Dock Community School is the first school in the county to achieve a platinum eco-schools award, and visits to a local farm have played a crucial role in the programme.
Little Pencoed Farm has welcomed 907 pupils since March 2006 and is now regarded as an ‘extension of the school grounds’.
Teacher Amanda Williams, who has co-ordinated the school’s work towards the award said: “Farmer Bruce Carlisle and our education leader Jill Simpson are essential to our pupils learning about and appreciating the importance of biodiversity.
“Promoting care and consideration of the countryside, animals and habitats, understanding a little about the management of the farm and encouraging critical thought and decision making are elements of our visits.”
Pupils study food on the farm, habitats, past and present agricultural industries and the story of milk as part of the programme.
Ms Edwards added: “These units of study cover areas of the science, geography and history curriculum.
“I would be confident in saying that our pupils know where their food comes from, have a very good understanding of a working organic dairy farm and have gained an appreciation for the countryside.”
When television presented Iolo Williams attended the school’s award ceremony, he expressed support for school visits to farms.
Jill Simpson, of Learning on the Farm and Farming and Countryside Education works in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire helping farmers as hosts and schools find farms to visit.
For more information, contact Jill Simpson on 01834 891344.
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