Farm to Fork Comes to Life at Essebeare Farm

In the Spring Term, Class 4's topic was Farm to Fork. As part of our learning, we explored sustainable farming methods in both the UK and India. Two of our key enquiry questions were 'How can allotments and gardens help food production be more sustainable?' and 'What do modern British farms look like?'

I felt these were the types of geographical questions that needed to be explored in the real world rather than through online research alone. Therefore, I contacted our ever-helpful friend, Olly, at Essebeare Farm, who was keen to support our learning. Unfortunately, poor weather and diary clashes prevented us from visiting during the Spring Term, so once SATs were behind us, we were eager to rearrange the trip.

Last week, everything finally came together and we made our long-awaited visit to the farm. Olly planned a fantastic morning that brought our classroom learning to life. We began by exploring his allotment and discovering the wide range of produce he is currently growing. Olly explained that the food miles and carbon footprint of his produce were only a matter of metres from the allotment to his kitchen table. He also shared experiences from his travels in India, explaining that much of the produce grown there is consumed within the country, helping communities become increasingly self-sufficient. We were fascinated to learn that over 40% of India's population works in agriculture, compared to around 1% of the UK's population.

Later in the morning, Olly showed us the different ways he generates income from the farm and discussed how many modern farmers are diversifying their businesses to secure their futures. The children particularly enjoyed feeding the baby lambs before finishing the visit with some time exploring the woodland and gathering around a campfire.

A huge thank you to Olly for such an engaging and memorable experience and for helping to bring our learning to life.

Mr Manning

UKS2 Teacher & PE Lead