Last week, our Education team joined exhibitors from all over Suffolk at Trinity Park, Ipswich to attend the Suffolk Schools Farm and Country Fair, hosted by the Suffolk Agricultural Association.
This year was the biggest yet, with over 4000 7-9 year olds attending to learn more about businesses and organisations linked with Food, Conservation, Emergency Services, Health and Wellbeing and of course Farming!
Susan and Bee were joined by volunteer Debs, who set up our stall with the usual activities - Pellet Detectives and Food Chain Bracelets. Based on last years experience, Susan had opted for more tables to spread out the activities this year, in the hope that there wouldn’t be so much waiting for the young visitors.
Susan and Bee ready for the children to arrive.
From 9.30 when the first schools arrived, until 12pm, the team engaged with what felt like most the visitors, with all the activities proving to be even more popular than last year! At one point, while showing the difference between a vole and a shrew skull found in some pellets, one child exclaimed “BLIMEY” which summed up the marvel of this activity.
“At one point, I looked up and there must have been about 100 faces looking back at me, waiting for their turn to become Pellet Detectives!”
The day was made even more special as we were honoured to meet HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh, who attended our stand with a small group of school children to learn how to make a Food Chain Bracelet. With Susan on hand to explain the instructions, the Duchess asked the children what they knew about food chains, then quizzed them before moving on to continue her visit of the event. She was presented with an SOS Pin Badge and we hope that she enjoyed her day.
HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh visiting our stand and making a Food Chain bracelet with some of the young visitors.
Later in the day, when most of the schools were heading back to their coaches and there were only a couple of groups left, one child asked the team how they could get a job doing this. Clearly, our work had inspired them, and hopefully many more, to consider a career in conservation education.
As the last group left, the team stood in shocked disarray at the sheer number of children they had spoken to! All had sore throats from speaking to so many people, and were very grateful to the SAA for providing a hot lunch and cold drinks at the end of the day.
Susan and Bee ready to welcome learners.
Shân Bendall, Education Manager at the Suffolk Agricultural Association said “The School Farm and Country Fair is hugely important to children to allow them to experience the richness of rural life as well as the learn about the huge variety of work that goes into producing the food they eat. The day brings to life learning with hands-on, interactive exhibits ensuring children go home enthused about what they have seen, done and learnt. We hope the memories and knowledge from the day go on to shape the decisions young people make around food, farming and the countryside.”