Working with Island Schools
Although the Island remains largely rural, many children spend little time in the countryside and have almost no contact with agriculture.
Everyone benefits from young people knowing how their food is produced and taking an interest in the issues facing this important sector. As the organisation that represents the Island’s farming community, we have an important role in helping our school children to learn about the Island’s diverse agriculture.
We are developing a programme of activities to bring primary school children into contact with different aspects of rural life. This includes arranging visits to local farms and organising an annual Farming and Countryside Awareness Competition.
RIWAS Education Day
Over the last few years, the Royal Isle of Wight County Show has re-established itself as one of the premier rural events in the summer calendar. As well as promoting and showcasing the Island’s rural sector and the importance of local food, the County Show is a celebration of the very best of life on the Isle of Wight. It is our aspiration that every Island Primary School will be involved in some way in the Show and to enable that, RIWAS introduced the annual Education Day for primary school children in May 2018.
The event is free to all participants and strikes a perfect balance of fun and education, making it an extremely popular part of many of the schools’ summer terms. Our prime objective is to inform the children about various aspects of rural life on the Isle of Wight and our fantastic team of volunteers is there to represent most areas of the County Show and to ensure the children get the maximum out of their day.
Every year, the tractor and trailer ride is a firm favourite with all as it transports children to experience traditional crafts in our Woodland Area. Then, from planting seeds and learning about food crops to creating masterpieces in the Art Area, the children are encouraged to get ‘hands on’ in every area. A wide selection of animals from bees, pigs, horses and cattle to dogs, sheep and alpacas are available for the children to meet, with many questions being asked of the handlers who are taking care of their beautiful animals. Those with energy to burn take part in the school sports area, and clamber over a vintage tractor for the perfect photo shoot!
It is always a fantastic day which is thoroughly enjoyed by all who take part. We’re so grateful to all the schools for participating and to our tireless County Show team and supporters for making it happen.
For more information or if you would like your school to participate in the 2025 RIWAS Education Day, please contact us at riwas@naturalenterprise.co.uk
