LESSONS ON THE FARM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Young people are getting a taste of life down on the farm through a new initiative at Occombe Farm, Paignton. As part of Occombe's One Planet Food Project children living in the Barton area of Torquay are visiting Occombe Farm once a week for six weeks in a partnership between Barton's Acorn Community Centre and Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust who manage Occombe.

Sarah Kent, Education Ranger for the Trust said "The One Planet Project aims to promote local food across Torbay and we want to reach out and involve as many people as possible in food related activities. The children will get the chance to try a range of activities such as feeding the animals, bread making, pond-dipping, making bird feeders, collecting eggs, and sowing seeds. These children might not otherwise get the chance to visit Occombe or experience these types of activities."

All of the activities are free thanks to funding secured by Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust for the One Planet Food Project.

Acorn Centre Manager Marilyn Martin said "The 12 children taking part, aged 8-11, all live nearby to the Acorn Centre which sits within a locally deprived area. The visits have given the children opportunities that are not normally available to them. They have been very vocal about what they have experienced so far: collecting eggs and then taking them home to cook with; feeding the chickens and cows; grinding seeds to make the flour for bread and taking the rewards home for the family to share. Seeing buildings being constructed with straw has been a highlight with concerns of "can the foxes blow them down" (from the Three Little Pigs story)! One child insisted on missing cricket and football practice as he can "do that anytime but can't do this." If the next five weeks or so are as rewarding as the first two these children are going to go away with experiences and understanding of farm life that will stay with them for a long time."


Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust are currently setting up a new growing area at Occombe Farm which will be the base for events and courses promoting local food and growing your own - it will also be open to the public to look around. A new Community Kitchen is also being built to allow visiting groups to get hands-on in the kitchen.

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust's One Planet Food Project is funded through the Local Food Fund (Lottery).

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