Farm and environment education winner crowned

Rosie Jeffries from Greatworth Hall, Oxfordshire has been declared the overall winner of the Bayer Farming and Countryside Education (Face) Awards for her work with primary schoolchildren.

Mrs Jeffries was one of five winners at the awards, held in London on 20 September, after scooping the Farm School Partnership Award for the educational relationship she formed with a local primary.

Children from Greatworth Primary School visit the 200ha arable farm near Banbury in Oxfordshire four times a year to watch the progress of the crops through the seasons.

See also: Hosting school visits – insight and tips from three farms

The children also track a tree through the year and adopt one of the 200 sheep on the farm.

Part of the curriculum

Mrs Jeffries, a qualified teacher, runs the farm with her father and works alongside her mother to conduct lessons on the environment, and design and technology.

Head judge Janet Hickinbottom, national education officer at charity Face, which helped organise the awards, said the judges were impressed with how Mrs Jeffries and the team had made farming relevant to all parts of the school curriculum.

Michael Muncey, head of business for Bayer Crop Science in the UK said: “It is fantastic to see the sheer enthusiasm of people trying to reconnect young people with where their food comes from.

“Farmers, growers and other organisations up and down the country are doing some amazing work when it comes to making UK agriculture relevant to the next generation, and we believe it is worth celebrating their achievements.”

Other winners include Whirlow Hall Farm Trust in Sheffield.

It was awarded the Access Award for its work with a broad range of children including those with troubled backgrounds and special needs.

Biodiveristy Award winner High Crane Lodge in Hamsterley, near Bishop Auckland, was recognised for its work promoting understanding of the environment in children, while Brockhill Farm’s work at Saltwood, near Hythe, received the Future of Farming Award for increasing understanding of farming.

The Inspiring Educator Award was presented to Barleylands Farm, located in Billericay, Essex, for providing unusual or particularly innovative learning experiences.