Inner-city children have time of their lives at The CLA Game Fair

A group of inner-city children have enjoyed a tremendous day of activity at The CLA Game Fair – thanks to The CLA Charitable Trust, The Country Trust and the Ernest Cook Trust.

The 23 pupils – 13 girls and 10 boys, all aged between nine and 11 – got to grips with falconry, wildlife, the maize maze and handling ferrets . . and had a delicious lunch at the  CLA's Food Chain Initiative.

The children were all from Holy Cross Roman Catholic School in Leicester.

Jemma Bone, the teacher who coordinated the visit, said: "The area surrounding the school in Leicester is very built-up so the children aren't able to explore and learn about the countryside.

"We are grateful to have been given this opportunity. The children can't get enough of The CLA Game Fair."

Eleven-year-old Alina Ashras said: "The maize maze was my favourite thing. I got lost three times!"

The children learnt a bit about the locally sourced food at the CLA's Food Chain Initiative stand.

Dr Charles Trotman, the CLA's Head of Rural Business Development, said: "The CLA's Food Chain Initiative gives children first-hand knowledge of where the food on our plate actually comes from.

"Over the last three years the CLA has been hugely successful in promoting its Just Ask Campaign. It is vital that children from all the different backgrounds recognise the importance of local food so they can tell their parents about it."

Jessie Cooke, Secretary to the Education Working Group who organised the visit, said: "The look of joy on the children's faces as they discovered the countryside for the first time was wonderful to see."

The CLA arranged the day out and provided tickets for the children and the adults accompanying them to encourage more CLA members to host educational visits on their farms and estates.

The transport and lunch was funded by The CLA Charitable Trust which is expanding its education work with the objective to promote education about the countryside, particularly to children from inner-city schools.

The CLA also enlisted the help of The Country Trust who put them in touch with the Holy Cross School and the Ernest Cook Trust whose staff led the children on their tour of The CLA Game Fair.

The Country Trust, a national educational charity founded in 1979, is dedicated to bringing alive the working countryside for urban children from deprived inner-city areas.   

The Ernest Cook Trust is a charitable body charged with the dual role of maintaining the estates given to it by Ernest Cook, and all that they stand for, and giving money to support educational and research projects.

CLA MEDIA CONTACTS:

For further information and interviews:

 Oliver Wilson, Director of Communications, 07702 928828, ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk

 NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The CLA Game Fair, the world's biggest countryside event, is being held at Belvoir Castle, near Grantham, Leicestershire, from Friday, 24 July – Sunday, 26 July.  For full details and to apply for Press Passes to the show:  www.gamefair.co.uk.  Contact: Fiona Eastman, Director of Marketing and Show Development, fiona.eastman@cla.org.uk or Marishelle Gibson, Senior Press Officer, marishelle.gibson@cla.org.uk