Children from Kinross primary school saw cattle up close and discovered what barley felt like when they toured Alistair and Jane McLaren’s Classlochie Farm near Loch Leven.
The visit by the primary two and three pupils was organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) as part of their project to give every child in Scotland the opportunity to learn about food, farming and the countryside.
The farm, which lies at the side of Loch Leven, links into the school’s ‘Growing up with Loch Leven’ project. For many of the children it was the first time they had visited a working farm.
RHET coordinator for Perth and Kinross, Alix Ritchie,said the McLarens enthusiasm for farming had engaged the pupils.
“With childhood obesity, malnutrition and food poverty continuing to dominate headlines, the gap between food and its source is widening,” she said.
“At RHET we aim to educate children about where their food comes from and the great pride that Scottish farmers take in producing it. This will allow them to make informed decisions about the produce they consume now and in the future which will, in turn, support the farmers of Scotland.”
The organisation receives core funding from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), with other operating costs covered by donations from local businesses and fundraising events to enable resources and services to be delivered free to schools.