NSA supports sheep farmers bringing the countryside into UK classrooms

As lambing season draws to a close across the UK, sheep farmers are reflecting not only on a busy few months of new life on farm, but on the importance of sharing that experience with the next generation.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has been encouraging its members to open a window into the world of sheep farming this spring, helping to connect children and the wider public with where their food and fibre comes from and how it is produced.

Initiatives like these play a vital role in bridging the gap between farm and fork. By engaging directly with young people, farmers can help build understanding of how sheep farming supports the environment through grazing and landscape management, produces a sustainable natural fibre in wool, and provides a high-quality, nutrient-rich source of food in lamb.

NSA Technical Communications Officer and Yorkshire Farmer Anna Wilson recently brought lambing season to life for pupils during a school visit, accompanied by a group of young lambs.

She said: “The children asked such thoughtful questions about why the lambs had numbers on their sides and what their ear tags meant, showing just how valuable hands-on experiences can be. For many pupils in built-up areas, meeting farm animals at school is their first real connection to farming, helping them understand where food comes from and why farmers are so important to our everyday lives.”

Elsewhere, NSA members Andrew Dellbridge and Catherine Flaxman, who farm in Norfolk, have been connecting the classroom with the countryside. The couple farm around 100 Hebridean and Herdwick ewes across a mix of grazing land from traditional meadows to solar farms. They are now in their second year of working with Farmer Time, an initiative that sees them partake in video calls to school classrooms.

Through the regular live calls direct from their farm, Andrew and Catherine guide pupils through the farming calendar, offering a real-time insight into the care and management of sheep throughout the year.

They explain: “It is hoped that when children are out and about, they don’t just see a ‘green’ landscape, but recognise the livestock, land managers and farmers within it. We want them to understand the care that goes into producing food and looking after the countryside and perhaps even consider a future career in farming.”

The impact of these sessions is already being felt. Andrew adds: “When we first started working with the school, we were told only one pupil was interested in being a farmer. By the end of the first year, the feedback we received showed that many more were now keen to follow that path.”

By keeping engagement simple and accessible, whether through school visits or virtual calls, farmers are helping to shape how young people view food production, animal welfare and the role of farming in everyday life.

As another lambing season comes to an end, NSA is encouraging more sheep farmers to get involved in outreach activities where possible, helping to inspire a better understanding of British farming, the environment and the countryside amongst the next generation.

Find a full interview with Andrew and Catherine explaining more about their time working with school children on the NSA website here.