Countryside day down on the farm for 300 Fife youngsters

Fife pupils will have their lessons in the countryside thanks to an educational day at Gilston Mains on Wednesday.

Edward Baxter and 4 Front Farming have hosted this event for the past 10 years.

The countryside day is organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust and funded by the Scotrail Foundation community grants programme and RHET Fife.

More than 300 pupils from Balcurvie, Mountfleurie, St Agatha’s, Methilhill, Kennoway, Aberhill and Parkhill primaries will take part in 12 interactive activities including pond dipping, sheep shearing and forestry during the day which aims to teach the pupils about the reality of country life.

Volunteers from the local agricultural community will be helping run the activities and with a focus on the countryside, pupils will also learn about gamekeeping, conservation, cereal production and machinery.

Mr Baxter said: “What goes on in the countryside is a mystery to most people.

“We are here but are seldom noticed.

“The countryside day at Gilston is a wonderful opportunity for the estate to showcase to children and their teachers the many things that are going on at Gilston both growing the food we eat and providing a refuge for the wildlife we enjoy.

“They are unlikely to have the first hand knowledge of food and farming which we all take for granted, and sharing that knowledge is a pleasure as well as a responsibility.”

RHET Fife coordinator Carole Brunton said: “These days are great as the pupils have never experienced anything like it before and they love it.”