The Goodwood Education Trust, the independent environmental education charity operating on the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, is continuing to offer funded farm trips through 2026. The Trust has been connecting children with nature for 50 years, and offers three programmes: Farm Visits, Forest School, and Children in the Community.
The farm visits are suitable for both primary and secondary classes, with content tailored to particular curriculum areas. Students experience all aspects of one of the largest organic farms in the country, meet the dairy cows, gain insight into potential careers in agriculture, make the connection with the food they eat, and learn about how environmentally sensitive farming benefits the landscape. The Education Trust is based at a stunning and sustainable Education Centre, offering a comfortable and accessible base for visiting groups.
Schools find the cost of transport to rural sites a particular challenge, and this year the Education Trust is delighted to be partnering with the South of England Agricultural Society to help schools. Established in 1967, supporting countryside learning and agricultural education is central to their mission, and the Society runs a number of initiatives to encourage children to develop an interest in the countryside industries. These include the popular Loan-a-Lamb scheme, where primary schools look after a ewe and her lambs for a week, and free tickets for schools to their flagship South of England Show each June.
The Society has made a grant to the Education Trust, to support up to 20 schools with a contribution to the cost of their travel to the farm at Goodwood.
Catherine Cannon, Trust Manager said, ‘We know how valuable it is for children to spend time on the farm, meeting the animals, learning about jobs, and discovering where their food comes from. And beyond that, spending time outside, in nature, is so important for both physical and mental health. We’re thrilled that the South of England Agricultural Society is making visits more accessible through their travel funding’.
Corrie Ince, Show Director said, ‘School visits to the South of England Show are really popular with both primary and secondary schools from across the region. Partnering with the Goodwood Education Trust will enable more schools to experience life on a farm and bring their learning to life. We know that the cost of transport is a real barrier for schools, and are pleased to be able to make this grant available.’
To book your free trip, please contact the Education Trust at get@goodwood.com