Bristol pupils learn about pondlife during visit to Co-operative Farms

Budding David Bellamys from a Bristol primary school got their hands dirty putting the finishing touches to a wildlife pond at The Co-operative Farms’ Down Ampney estate.

The year three school children, aged seven to eight-years-old, from Little Mead Primary School, Gosforth Road, took a break from the classroom to learn about food and farming as part of The Co-operative’s From Farm to Fork (FF2F) project.

During the day the youngsters learnt about The Co-operative’s farms, the crops they grow and healthy eating. They also learnt how to prepare a nutritious meal by making fresh pasta and pasta salad from scratch using ingredients from The Co-operative Farms product range.

The pupils also helped lay edging stones and putting plants, such as bulrushes and irises, in a new wilfdlife pond, which aims to attract a variety of wildlife, including frogs, newts, water beetles and water boatmen.

Lucy Ashcroft, The Co-operative Farms’ FF2F project leader at Down Ampney estate, near Cirencester, said: “It was a fantastic day out for the children, who got the chance to make their own food and learn about how it is grown on Co-operative farms.

“It was great for them to learn about the benefits of healthy eating, as well as get a hands-on experience finishing off our wildlife pond and understanding the importance that wildlife plays in farming and putting food on our plate.”

The Co-operative has been farming at the Down Ampney estate, which grows potatoes, rapeseed oil and cereals, since 1918.

From Farm to Fork is a national farming project, which is an award-winning outdoor learning experience that normally takes place at seven farms, which are owned or managed by The Co-operative Farms. The project is aimed at primary school children, who may not have spent much time in the countryside.