Festival of the Harvest 2010 at Stoneleigh Park 30 September
Over 500 Year 5 and Year 6 children and their teachers from Primary Schools in the central Warwickshire LEADER area and beyond spent a whole day learning about food, farming and the environment. The event was organised and delivered by the Warwickshire Rural Hub with substantial funding from the LEADER programme (www.warwickshireleader.net).
The event had the very kind support and participation of many businesses, groups, colleges, the NFU, farmers from Warwickshire and neighbouring counties and Sainsbury.
Led by local famers, the children engaged in 17 demonstrations and exhibits which relate to the curriculum. They included:
• Soil, compost and worms
• Arable: Grain production – the Grain Train (from plough to combine) & pasta making
• Horticulture: Growing and harvesting of baby leaf salads & pressing apples to make fresh apple juice
• Dairy: Milk production with Jersey cows and calves & butter making
• Livestock: Beef animals and sheep in attendance, burger making & poultry – meat and egg production
• Bees and pollination with honey spinning
• The Environment: FWAG, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, LEAF & Syngenta Crop Protection
The Central Warwickshire Villages LEADER programme has secured £1.2 million of European funding through Advantage West Midlands. It is now available for rural parishes of Rugby and Warwick looking to boost economy activity in their area. This funding will be available until 2013. Central Warwickshire LEADER aims to promote the use of services in rural areas through horticultural activities, art initiatives and industry links with a focus on creating a strong sense of place and promoting sustainable and inclusive rural communities.