Trailer launch boosts school visits

A purpose-built visitor trailer is set to boost school visits to Food Animal Initiative (FAI) Farms at Wytham, Oxfordshire, as part of an outdoor classroom initiative co-sponsored by Oxford University. The new trailer was launched on Friday, 23 April. The school visit programme is part of a series of educational programmes that help to develop the understanding of food production and the challenges of the future in meeting the demands for food. The Outdoor Classroom initiative brings together Oxford University's Zoology department, FAI, and the Oxford-based Charity FACT (The Farm Animal Care Trust). Oxford's Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Ian Walmsley, was on hand on Friday to accompany thirty pupils from the local Wolvercote Primary School on a farm tour in the new trailer. Professor Walmsley said: 'Our outreach programme is designed to raise the aspirations of young people and the new Outdoor Classroom at FAI provides a wonderful resource for local schools and the community.' Thanks to the trailer, which was financed by the Tesco Charity Trust, visitors from Oxfordshire's primary and secondary schools will have the ability to get up close to the farm's cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. Many schools are taking the opportunity to integrate their classroom activities with FAI's work on sustainable food production.