Suffolk: Children Learn About Outdoors

27 April 2012, 00:00 | Updated: 27 April 2012, 06:21

Four thousand children turned up at the home of the Suffolk Show today to learn all about food, farming and the countryside for the School Farm and Country Fair at Trinity Park, Ipswich.

The Fair, which is in its twelfth year, is organised by the Suffolk Agricultural Association to revive children's interest in the countryside and farming. 

The event saw the children, from 80 different Suffolk schools, enjoy a number of live demonstrations including sheep shearing, ferret racing and gun dog displays. 

Other activities that happened throughout the day ranged from the historic farming timeline to the chance to meet Suffolk Punch horses and visit a wildlife area and ancient woodland trail. 

Each school was paired with a steward who acted as their expert for the day to allow pupils to maximise their experience, showing the children where food comes from, how it is made and how it reaches their table. 

Bill Baker of Baker Farms, chairman of the School Farm and Country Fair Organising Committee, said: 'For me, the highlight is seeing how enthusiastically the children interact with the huge variety of exhibits. The success of the day is measured by the excited expressions on the faces of many children.'

'The Fair was yet again an enormous success. The children looked like they had such a fun day but learnt a lot about the countryside at the same time.' 

Vicki Stephens, a teacher from Wilby Primary School, commented that: 'It's great for the children to be outside and be able to get up close and touch all the animals whilst still having a very real learning experience.'