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The Country Trust helps children understand our current food system by opening doorways to experiences that would otherwise be closed.
Our experienced network of Coordinators work with teachers & leaders to tailor Farm Discovery visits to the needs of the children, developing activities that link in with the curriculum or current classroom topic, as well as supporting emotional and social needs. You can find out more about Curriculum Links in the FAQs below.
Our Farm Discovery programme is aimed at primary schools with a higher-than-average percentage of children eligible for Free School Meals EVER6. This is currently 25.9%. We also work with Nurture Groups, PRUs, Young Carers, SEN/D schools or other groups supporting disadvantaged children. You can find out more about eligibility by clicking here.
We fundraise to ensure there is no charge for these visits; the only expense for schools is transport. If your school requires support for transport costs, please email us to discuss.
93% of teachers taking their pupils on a Farm Discovery visit intend to use the visit as a core aspect of their curriculum planning next year, with 71% strongly agreeing.
Country Trust Impact Report 2022
The Country Trust is a charity dedicated to supporting the most persistently ;disadvantaged children. Schools and groups that meet our eligibility below, qualify for our support.
Click here to check your schools current EVER6 percentage
Below are some examples of how a visit could link into the curriculum. Please note that our Coordinators tailor visits to the needs of the class and teaching topic. The below is provided as an illustrative guide.
• Mathematics and Numeracy: Real-world application of arithmetic and facts to estimate inputs, outputs and processes; i.e. how many loaves of bread could this field of wheat produce? How much seed does a farmer need to sow to achieve their yields? How does a farmer use weather data to help plan their year?
• Language and Literacy: Acquisition of new, context-based vocabulary to support learning and provide a springboard for creative writing.
• STEM: Our visits have strong links to science and engineering including; states of matter, materials and properties, seasonal changes, living things and habitats, animals, rocks and plants as well as topics such as climate change and its impact on the food we eat.
• Wellbeing and PSHE: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, New Experiences, Living in the Wider World: economic well-being and being a responsible citizen.
Please contact us at farmdiscovery@countrytrust.org.uk We will link you to your local coordinator who will let you know about visits available in your area.
It would be really helpful if you could let us know
We will then connect you to your local Coordinator who will work with you to agree:
You will receive a Confirmation pack and Risk assessment for your visit. Please note that teachers will be required to attend a Pre-visit (see below)
You are responsible for booking your own transport to the farm. Please do this as soon as possible and confirm with your Coordinator as visit cancellations cost us money.
The majority of our visits are targeted at primary school-age children.
We recommend that Early Years groups take part in our Farm in a Box Local programme before coming out to a farm to help prepare younger children for the visit. We strongly recommend that Early Years groups book visits during the summer term only to allow the children more time to settle into school life.
Farm Discovery visits are suitable for children with additional needs. Please work with your local Farm Discovery Coordinator to agree the most appropriate farm and way to engage all children on the visit.
Our visits are free to all eligible schools and groups.
You are responsible for booking your own transport to the farm.
If transport is a barrier to participation, please contact your local Farm Discovery Coordinator who may be able to advise about local transport subsidies available.
Farm Discovery visits usually run between 10am and 2pm to allow you time to travel within the school day.
Our Farm Discovery Coordinators work with our host farmers to bring food and farming alive for your children. We aim to promote curiosity, confidence and connections through hands-on immersive activities. We will work with you to tailor the content of the day.
An example timetable might look like
10.00am: Arrive at the farm
10.15am: Introductions and health and safety/snack
10.30am: Farm tour
11.45am—12.30pm: Lunch break
12.30pm—2.00 pm: Afternoon activities
2.15pm: Departure
We work with a range of different host farms and land owners across the UK.
Read our position statement for more information.
Teachers / leaders are required to attend a pre-visit. This can be arranged at a time to suit you.
At a pre-visit we:
All of our hosts have a Risk Assessment for their farm, Country Trust Coordinators also create a Risk Assessment which includes the activities that will take place on the visit. You will be sent these with your confirmation pack.
We will talk through all risks on the pre visit with teachers and host farmers to enable you to produce your own risk assessment.
We work with a small number of non-school groups to bring vulnerable children out on visits.
Please get in touch at farmdiscovery@countrytrust.org.uk if you would like to discuss this opportunity further.
We were looking at tiny holes in sprigs of rosemary with magnifiers, and talking about photosynthesis. He said ‘it’s like a perfect circle, with plants giving out oxygen and taking in carbon dioxide and animals doing it the other way round. We all depend on each other’. I could see that it was a total ‘light bulb’ moment for him.” Farmer Host, Yorkshire
Food discovery is a year-long programme to support educators and their students in growing, eating and even selling food!
