A scheme which looks to encourage interest in farming by loaning lambs to schools is celebrating its fifth year.
‘Loan a Lamb’ was founded by the South of England Agricultural Society and invites schools across Sussex and Surrey to care for a lamb for a week.
The initiative provides children with hands-on experience and looks to inspire interest in British agriculture.
This year marks five years of the scheme, with 18 primary schools taking part.
Due to its popularity, the scheme is only able to visit schools once. The project has so far visited around 50 schools in the area since it began.
Alan Smith, Chairman of the South of England Agricultural Society and Education Committee member (Image: Southern News & Pictures (SNAP))
Alan Smith, Trustee Chair of the South of England Agricultural Society and a member of the Education Committee, explained how the scheme works.
He said: “The idea was to start off at five primary schools because at that age, children are a sponge for information. They just want to learn.
“Before we bring in the ewe and lamb, teachers come to the society to see how they can link having the sheep at the school with the curriculum.”
Children are encouraged to learn about farming life and the industry, how to care for animals, food production and sustainability.
The schools are provided with penning, a hut, buckets, feed and instructions how to care for the animal.
The sheep also come from a nearby farm, with the farmer available to come if any issues arise.
Mr Smith added: “Each age group takes something different from the experience. It proves to be so helpful to children, particularly because some don’t relish sitting in a classroom all day.”
The society hopes to expand the scheme further and get more farms involved, with a waiting list for schools already hoping to take part next year.
Mr Smith said: “We hope more farms can get involved and we can then cater to more schools within our scope.
“Especially within the agricultural industry, we want to associate with the public and show what is happening on farms. This a chance for children to see first-hand.”
Children with the sheep at Bohunt school, Horsham (Image: Southern News & Pictures (SNAP))
Bohunt Horsham school was among those to take part in the scheme this year.
Maths teacher, Rhiannon Vallaly-Godfrey led the project after seeing at advertised at Spring Life.
She said: “We took different routes for the different age groups. The younger years were taught about animal care, respect for animals and for many children it was a chance to interact with animals for the first time.
“The secondary years were looking more at agricultural and farming industry, thinking about where food comes from.”
She praised the scheme and the benefit it had on children at the school.
Ms Vallaly-Godfrey said: “It’s definitely made the children have some deeper questions and think of them not just as animals in a field.
“But also asking about British farming and what’s happening to the industry.”
She added: “It’s been the most amazing experience. We’d one hundred percent jump at it again. Our tagline is ‘enjoy, respect, achieve’, and I felt the experience embodied that.
“It’s also made students think outside the book, it’s not an industry you necessarily think off.”