EducationEducation & Schools
Education and working with schools is a central part of the work of many city farms and community gardens, and this is reflected in FCFCG's involvement in a number of partnerships and initiatives within this area.
Our overarching aim is to support the use of farming and gardening as an education tool and to promote the benefits of learning outside the normal classroom environment.
News & Updates
FCFCG has formed links with Reciproc8 Recycling, a company that provides free products and experiences to UK schools and education organisations via a recycling rewards scheme.
Products include:
Growing and Planting – seeds, vegetables, plants , trees and much more
Husbandry – hen houses, nesting boxes, hibernation houses and much more
Gardening Equipment – a range of tools for children and adults
Outdoor Furniture – including compost bins, raised beds, tables and benches
School Farms Network
There are now 82 School Farms in the UK. FCFCG helped set up and now co-ordinates the School Farms Network with the Department of Education.
The network offers support and assistance to school farms, co-ordinates meetings and facilitates the exchange of ideas and information. In addition, an e-newsletter is regularly despatched to members to keep them up to date.
Growing Schools
In 2001 FCFCG was commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, now called the Department for Education, to research the links that exist between schools, farming and gardening. You can visit the Growing Schools website at www.growingschools.org.uk for a range of resources or click below for more information.
Access to Farms Training
Access To Farms (ATF) is a partnership of national organisations aiming to improve the opportunities and quality of educational access to farms by schools. Set up by FCFCG in 1999, ATF has 15 national partner members (see below) and has developed the country's most comprehensive database of farms providing educational access.
The partnership shares information and good practice, arranges joint educational projects, accredits farms that work with school groups, provides training and manages an online database allowing teachers to identify the nearest or most suitable farm to visit. The database is hosted by the Growing Schools programme at: www.growingschools.org.uk
Growing With Schools (Coventry)
“Teachers’ lack of knowledge and confidence in the field of horticulture means that they need the support of a specialist to make the best use of their school grounds.” (Growing Schools Evaluation, CEE/Bath University, 2003)
Awareness and support for hands-on growing activities in schools are increasing. Numerous resource and information packs are now available, but what staff in many schools need is personalised support from knowledgeable individuals.
The ‘Growing With Schools’ hub project was set up to do just this for schools in Coventry. It is funded by The JJ Charitable Trust and the Mark Leonard Trust and managed by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. Coventry Education Business Partnership and Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School and Language College are the other partners.
Think Food & Farming
This is the exciting legacy project intended to build on the success of the Year of Food and Farming (YoFF), which ran from September 2007 to July 2008. Think Food & Farming will continue to promote the activities and links which are helping children to understand more about where our food comes from and to involve them in memorable first hand learning experiences.
