Member Article

Southey Green Primary School pupils visit working farm

For the fifth consecutive year, sponsorship from business and financial adviser Grant Thornton has made it possible for inner city primary school children to visit Whirlow Hall Farm in Sheffield.

The firm’s continuing support of Whirlow Hall Farm Trust 480 Club this year enabled 12 children from Southey Green Primary School in Sheffield to enjoy a two night stay at the farm.

The Year 2 pupils spent three days learning about all aspects of life on the farm, talking about the environment, the animals on the farm and how food is produced.

The children were also shown how to perform everyday tasks such as collecting eggs, grooming the horses and feeding the animals. They were also able to have a ride on one of the farm’s ponies, Bracken.

Michelle Askham, business services manager at Grant Thornton, who accompanied the children on part of the visit, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for children from the city to see a real working farm. Once again, the children were given on hands-on experience of caring for the animals whilst also learning about the importance of farming and where their food comes from.

“The children had a great time and we’re proud to continue to support the project.”

Grant Thornton’s sponsorship of the school is part of their involvement in the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust 480 Club, a scheme which allows children from local schools to visit the farm – which has been run by an educational trust since 1979.

Whirlow Hall Farm is an educational working farm which offers children the opportunity to see and feed animals, as well as learning about everyday life on the farm. Each year around 10,000 children visit the farm, and the 480 Club and its sponsors help to ensure more children receive this opportunity.

The scheme sees local businesses donate £480 a year to fund school visits to the farm, with a particular focus on schools with a higher proportion of pupils with special educational needs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Grant Thornton .