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Grow it, Cook it, Eat it!

The concept behind the event is to take children through the farm to fork process of our food, while increasing the awareness of the importance of nutrition and healthy eating along with knowledge of local produce. These messages are delivered to children aged between 9 - 11 year olds through fun and interactive workshops.

In the light of the current importance being placed on the nutritional well being of children, events such as this are essential in providing information on sustainability and a healthy balanced diet. This in turn will also contribute to the economic development of the agri-food industry of the area in the future. The primary producers and specific food production of the county were emphasised within the activities.

This is the eighth year of running of this unique five-day event. The 2010 event will be attended by 1220 pupils from 45 of Pembrokeshire's primary schools. Held in the second week of term, it provides a starting point for many aspects of term work for many of the schools. All primary schools in the county, including those with special needs, plus the two private schools were invited to apply to attend. Applicants were taken on a first come, first served basis.

Click here to view this year's event.

The Murco Gardening Marquee

Activities

Each day of the event had five main activities, with a duration of 30 minutes, one session being split into two sessions of 15 minutes. The activities are delivered in the grounds of Scolton Manor utilising the country park facilities, three marquees and the FSA trailer. Two of the five days were delivered bi-lingually when the Welsh medium schools attended.

A timetable to include a break, lunchtime and 10 minute turnaround between each activity was put together, with a finish time of approximately 2pm to allow schools to return to their schools to catch transport home.

The activities and their delivering partner included:-

"Learning the skills to grow plants to eat" - practical planting and ideas on starting your own garden or plot - Phil Triebel and WI
"Eating the food we produce" - including practical demonstrations and recipes incorporating the balance of good health through local produce - Angela Gray and PCC Food Team.
"A walk in the park"- Care of the countryside and sustainable farming - PCNPA
"What's in a label? How to choose the right foods plus food rationing in World War II" - PCC Food & Healthy Lifestyle Promoter & Scolton Manors Warden
"Health, nutrition and food safety" - 'Aliddon' Pantomime - Food Standards Agency.

The Murco Gardening Marquee

Aims of the Activities

The activities were planned to:

complement the Key Stage II curriculum work delivered in the school class room.
to assist schools in achieving the aims of the schools food and health strategy (*see list of aims below).
to assist in the healthy eating for schools projects.
to increase the knowledge and understanding of both pupils and teachers of the agrifood industry in the county, farming practises, the foods produced and their seasonality.
To encourage pupils to both cook and grown their own vegetables.
To encourage pupils to be able to choose and eat a balanced diet.
to assist in furthering the work of undertaken by WAG and Pembrokeshire County Council as described previously, increasing local food and drink business awareness and opportunities to supply Pembrokeshire County Council through the tendering process, plus the increase of the use of local produced food and drink on menus in schools and other outlets serviced by Pembrokeshire County Council Catering Department.

Grow it Cook it Eat it also provides an excellent vehicle to further work undertaken by the Pembrokeshire County Council's procurement and catering departments. Pembrokeshire County Council's Food Officer, is actively involved in encouraging local food and drink business to tender for contracts to supply the local Authority, as well as work carried out to introduce more fresh seasonal local produce onto the schools menus within recipes. It assists in raising awareness of the agrifood industry of the County and its seasonal produce. It also assists schools in meeting the aims of the joint food and health strategy for schools.

Pupils watching cookery demonstrations, the Food Standards Agency pantomime & pupils tasting various foods

The event is run in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council's Food & Healthy Lifestyle Promoter, Cultural Services, Health & Safety Officer and Food Officer; Pembrokeshire Coast National Park; the Food Standards Agency; the National Public Health Service, Women's Institute and Food Centre Wales, each bringing their expertise to particular activities. Specialist knowledge is also bought in from Angela Gray and Phil Triebel. The overall organisation of the event is carried out by the Pembrokeshire County Council's Food Officer and Assistant Food Officer.

To deliver this event sponsorship is required. The main financial sponsors for this year were Welsh Assembly Government, Murco refinery Limited, Milford Haven, Barclays Bank, Hybu Cig Cymru and FUW. Support was also received from many local businesses - see below:

Puffin Produce

Barringtons Garden Centre

Calon Wen

West Valley Honey Farm

West Atheston Farm

Little Rhyndaston Nurseries

Learning on the Fram

Braces Bread

Rhoshill Garden Plants

F J Hathaways & Sons

Educational and exhibition materials were also provided by numerous organisations, including: FACE, British Nutrition Foundation, Flour Advisory Bureau, Meat Promotion Wales/Hybi Cig Cymru, FSA, PCNPA, NFU Cymru, British Heart Foundation, SRS Project and Braces Bread.