A new project is under way in East Hampshire to teach schoolchildren about food and farming. The initiative includes visits to local farms, "Field to Plate" classroom workshops, and the development of self-guided farm trails. The project aims to promote healthy living, food production, and understanding of the countryside. It is funded by East Hampshire District Council and the Hampshire Rural Pathfinder Programme. Pupils from Liss Infant School were among the first to benefit from the scheme, having visited Durleighmarsh Farm, near Rogate. West Meon schoolchildren will be at Bens Green Farm in Froxfield on Monday. The visits have been organised by Hampshire Country Learning, which provides opportunities for all school-age children in Hampshire to learn about the countryside by way of visits. Infants from Bordon will visiting Mill Farm, near Alton, to learn about cows, sheep and farm machinery. The farm visits will be followed by a classroom session where the children will learn about local produce, the countryside, and healthy eating. In order to get the whole family involved, self- guided farm trails will be produced, encouraging families to follow set routes on selected farms and discover farming facts, healthy-eating tips and exercise along the route. East Hampshire District Council's countryside officer, Martin Healey, said: "Learning about the countryside and the food that we grow and eat is extremely important. "The project, run by our partners Hampshire Fare and Hampshire Country Learning, helps to engage with young people in an exciting way," Mr Healey added. The project is being managed by Hampshire Fare, the county food group.
