One Nottinghamshire school doesn’t need to bus its pupils to local farms for school trips – it has one on site.
Edwalton School has a farm complete with animals, crops and even woodland, and is the only primary school in England with such a facility.
The school has been nominated for a Times Educational Supplement (TES) Outstanding Sustainable School award.
Headteacher Brian Owens says: “The school is recognised as unique because of its farm and woods, amongst other things. I have a great passion for gardens, the outdoors and nature. I used to own 3 ½ acres of smallholding, a pre-war Massey Ferguson tractor and several acres of gardens and allotments. Gardening is always close to my heart and reflected in the way school promotes gardens and gardening for children.
“The school has a long and proud tradition of environmental awareness and the children reflect these values in their caring attitudes towards nature, animals and others. The children here are an absolute credit.”
The pupils are responsible for looking after the animals as well as growing fruit vegetables and flowers on the site. Animals at the farm include pigs, sheep, chickens, goats, guinea-pigs and rabbits.
The farm has been operating at the school since 1972, but has grown over the years and now includes three acres of woodland.
Parents, staff, children and governors work on a rota system to tend to the farm as well as the school’s after hours animal club. It also has strong links with local groups such as the Nottingham Wildlife Trust.
Eggs are sold, animals are sponsored and the parents’ association raises money to pay for the upkeep of the farm.