An exciting campaign running through the academic year September 2007 to July 2008 has recently been launched by HRH the Prince of Wales. The campaign is aimed at helping children and young people find out more about the countryside and the origins of their food.

There will be opportunities to find out how food is grown and produced and explore why food and the way it is sourced is so important. As well as this, emphasis will be placed on the importance of making informed choices about food and healthy nutrition and children will be able to discover what happens on a real-life farm, experience what the countryside can offer and learn more about environmental issues linked to food and the countryside.

The campaign gathers together events, activities and resources that will support teaching both inside and outside the classroom in a range of curriculum areas, including: PHSE; Science; Design and Technology and Geography.

It is hoped that throughout the Year farmers, food producers and lots of other organisation will be offering a wide range of ideas and events, information and teaching materials for participating schools, thus creating long and lasting partnerships between schools and food and farming businesses in the future.

There are so many ways for food and farming businesses to get involved. Perhaps you would like to host a visit? Go into the Classroom? Or provide pupils with growing kits? The Year of Food and Farming website can co-ordinate all offers of support, so what are you waiting for? Log on and register your details today at www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk