We rely on a fantastic network of volunteers across Scotland to share their passion for food and farming with the next generation. This week we want to say thank you to everyone who helps us in whatever capacity you get involved. The week beginning 1st June is volunteer week and over the course of the week we’d like to hear from you about your volunteering experiences with us. If you have anything you’d like to share – even if it’s just a few lines please send it through to training@rhet.org.uk
To start us off, Katie from Fife reflects on her experience volunteering with RHET.
“Getting their wellies dirty, jumping in puddles and running in the fields are all things our children take for granted growing up on a farm.
It wasn’t until our children’s friends visited the farm to see the lambs at lambing time that we realised how distant some children and even their parents are from farming and food production.
In order to allow other children a chance to get their wellies dirty and see first-hand what goes into producing the food they eat we recently became a host farm for school visits through the Royal Highland Education Trust. Our local RHET project co-ordinator, Angela, co-ordinates the visits and deals with all of the handwashing and welly disinfecting on the day as well as doing a great job of keeping the group in order during the visit.
We set off around the farm looking at the different machinery that is used, visiting the pet lambs and showing the children the powdered milk they are fed. Then off to the shed of ewes still to lamb to discover feet coming from a ewe. The children excitedly watched our son deliver the twins safe and well - I’m not too sure who was most excited, the children or the teachers! We walked round the maternity ward and then had a walk up the field. It amazes me how many of the children just love to be able to run - they ran all the way down the hill and gathered together quietly to listen to the different sounds we could hear.
The visits last about 2 hours so don’t take up much time at all and I suspect that short time will be remembered by each of the children for years to come. We were amazed by the kids genuine interest and enthusiasm for what we do and have found the visits to be a very rewarding experience. The agricultural industry today is very detached from its end consumers and in today’s world it is so important that we educate the younger generation, who will soon be those consumers, about our industry.”
The Royal Highland Education Trust work very hard to bring farming and the working countryside and its practises to the life of young people and as a charity rely on volunteers and donations to continue their invaluable work.
To share your own RHET volunteering experiences click here
or to register your interest in volunteering click here
Further information can be found at www.rhet.org.uk