Hundreds of primary five children from across the Scottish Borders attended the Border Union Agricultural Society (BUAS) Schools Countryside Education Day at Springwood Park yesterday, Tuesday 19 May.
The event
The annual event gives children the opportunity to learn about farming, food production, and many other aspects of rural life in an interactive, out of the classroom, fun and educational way.
Continuing the alliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the theme for this year’s event was Goal 15 ‘Life on Land’. Children were invited to create posters which incorporate elements of this year’s goal. These were displayed in the main hall on the day of the event.
Staff and Council members including Council Leader Euan Jardine and Council Convener Watson McAteer, met P5 children from across the region who took part in activities, ranging from auctioneering and stick making, to learning about farm machinery and organic gardening, to building a nest box, sheep shearing, and wool spinning.
Councillor Julie Pirone, Executive Member for Education, Youth Development and Lifelong Learning:
"This is a remarkable event which gives all primary five children from across our schools the opportunity to have real hands-on experience of a huge range of rural activities, which they can explore and perhaps think about as a future career.”
Jac Neill, Education and Careers Coordinator, Border Union Agricultural Society:
“We are delighted to welcome another 1100 primary five children to Springwood Park, to experience the width and breadth of farming through our annual Schools Countryside Day.
“By experiencing the different areas of the countryside, we hope they will see there are lots of career opportunities and feel inspired by the variety of rural activities they can take part in here today.
“We very much appreciate the ongoing partnership with SBC - helping with the sustainability of the event. We are extremely grateful for the continued support from the Fallago Environment Fund who part fund the project along with our partners Roxburghe Estates, EDF Renewables and Federated Hermes.”
Now in its 13th year, Schools Countryside Day is respected as a significant regional example of best practise, made possible by the remarkable culmination of support from 300 volunteers and over 50 exhibitors who all give so much to make it work.
The event also benefits from support from Arla UK, BASF, Caroline Caterers, Charity Begins at Home, Duke of Buccleuch Hounds, The Godman Charitable Company, Ednam Young Farmers Club, Ford and Etal Estate, Jamie Innes Estate, Kelso Farmers Market, and Kelso RFC.