Farming practices have seen huge developments over the years, but the principles remain the same. This year, over 1,500 children will explore how food production has evolved to keep up with an expanding population.
The 2016 Children’s Countryside Day, organised by the Glendale Agricultural Society (GAS), will take place at the traditional Glendale Show site on Thursday 9th June, with this year’s theme being ‘Farming through the years’.
In an era where tractor power has replaced man power, and horsepower has a very different meaning, many children are unaware of the history of food production. This year, the GAS Children’s Countryside Day allows schools from across North Northumberland and North Tyneside to discover and learn about farming history.
The GAS Children’s Countryside Day, former winner of the Northumberland National Park Young People’s Mentor Award and the Bayer FACE Innovative Learning Award, has a different theme each year. This is to encourage children to consider the topical and timely issues that might be facing the countryside. This year’s competition links with the introduction of the policy to charge for carrier bags. Schools have been invited to design a shopping bag, showing historic farming on one side and modern day farming on the other. Designs may be taken from the entries to be incorporated into GAS’s very own recyclable shopping bag.
Commenting on this year’s theme, Event Manager Philippa Shell said: “Previously, children have designed scarecrows, flags and even the GAS tie, which is worn by many members today. Through this competition we wanted to get the children thinking about how farming has developed and how we are tackling the issues currently faced in the countryside.”
The Glendale heritage has firm agricultural roots and the GAS Children’s Countryside Day is a chance for children to experience this. It is increasingly common for children to be unaware of where their food comes from and feedback from previous years highlights what a key part this event plays in the school year. Yes this is an event that the children to look forward to, however most importantly it is for them to learn things that will stay with them.
Children learn about different aspects of farming, the environment and rural life, from beekeeping to arable farming, red squirrel preservation, butchery, gamekeeping and flood management techniques. Through the 65 exhibitors and over 150 volunteers giving up their time to exhibit and support, all of the children are given a tremendous insight into farming and country life.
For many of the children who attend the GAS Children’s Countryside Day, this is often the only time in their lives that they actually learn how much food is on their doorstep, and how it is produced. Some of the very best grain, meat and vegetables in the UK are grown here in Northumberland and through this day the aim of the Society is to make the children aware of this.
Further information about Glendale Agricultural Society and the Children’s Countryside Day can be found on www.glendaleshow.com. Anyone schools interested in attending the Children’s Countryside Day can contact Philippa Shell on 01668283868 or via email philippa@glendaleshow.co.uk.