Farm links

Having a genuine relationship with a local farm shop improves the children’s knowledge of where food comes from.

David Maddison, headteacher
St Peter’s, Wem

Visit a farm

Have you ever asked a child where their food comes from? Their response is often “The supermarket!”

With 90% of us living in cities, we hardly have any chance of connecting with the farms where our food is produced.

Add to that the fact that lots of the food we eat is highly processed and rarely resembles the original ingredients, and we think you'll agree it is time to re-connect with where our food really comes from...a farm.

Linking schools with farms

Visiting a farm, even just once, can be a life changing experience for a young person. Our aim is for all pupils to visit a farm during their time at school.

We encourage schools and farms to set up a programme where small groups of pupils can visit the farm throughout the year.

Pupils can talk at length with the farmers, get a closer look round the farm and to begin to understand the yearly cycle of work.

A school picnic or harvest festival can provide an opportunity to bring larger numbers of pupils and community members to the farm to celebrate.

Setting up these links will help your school achieve the Food for Life Partnership Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

You can search for your nearest farm using our online farm finder or browse a full list of farms in your region.

Get in touch

Contact Will Marcombe, our Farm Links Officer for help and advice on setting up farm visits, as well as advice on training for teachers and farmers.

E: wmarcombe@soilassociation.org
T: 0117 987 4573

Set up a farm visit

Everything you need to organise successful farm visits

Primary resources

Secondary resources

Funding your Visit

There are many ways that your school can fund a visit to a farm. Have you considered running a school farmers' market to generate funds? Click HERE to find out more about how this exciting project could benefit your school.

Case study

Arranging residential visits to a farm Located in an inner city council estate in Lincolnshire, Hartsholme Primary School felt it was essential that their pupils had regular access to the countryside. The school approached Rand Farm, which is about 15 miles away from Lincoln, to arrange ...

The Food for Life Partnership is a network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture. Together we are revolutionising school meals, reconnecting children and young people with where their food comes from, and inspiring families to grow and cook food.