Leaf competition opens for schools in England and Wales

Returning for a fifth year, entries are now open for the Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf) national food, farming and natural environment competition.

Open to secondary schools across England and Wales, the contest aims to inspire the next generation of new entrants into the agri-food industry, and to get more young people to care about where their food comes from.

It seeks to engage students with farming, food production, and its links to the environment.

See also: How farmers are helping to educate school children about agriculture

The winning school will get to spend a weekend on the Reaseheath College farm in Nantwich, Cheshire, where pupils will gain hands-on farming experience and learn about the supply chain.

Carl Edwards, director of education and public engagement at Leaf Education, said: “Since we launched the competition in 2018, we have had a real impact on the industry with more than a third of the students who have taken part going on to apply to study at land-based colleges.

“No other industry initiative delivers this kind of meaningful action for new entrants from non agri-food backgrounds.

“All students reported the experience had ‘positively changed their perception of the farming industry’ and that it had ‘helped them with their studies back at school’.”

Teachers are encouraged to submit applications detailing why their school should be in the finals, and what the students would gain from the experience.

Seven schools will be selected to attend a finalists weekend on 7-9 July, from which a winner will be chosen.

Entries close on 28 April. To take part, visit the Leaf competition website.