Farm school children urge everyone to follow The Countryside Code

Children from St Martin’s Church of England Primary School in Brighton and farmers on the South Downs have made a film showing how to respect, protect and enjoy the countryside by following The Countryside Code.

They are part of Farm School, a project based in Brighton & Hove that provides primary school children with hands-on experience of working farms, connecting them to local food, farming and nature through outdoor learning.

“We love people coming onto the farm and enjoying the farm and also finding out about what we do,” said farmer Abbie Carr from Ovingdean Grange Farm which features in the film.

Learning about farming and nature conservation

Farmers from 9 farms on the council’s City Downland Estate have been giving the children guided tours, hands-on activities and nature walks to show how they farm and the nature conservation that goes alongside it.

Farm School is a collaboration between the council, its tenant farmers, schools, and the Changing Chalk partnership. The four-year Changing Chalk project is supported by a £2.23 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Since the beginning of the project in 2023, 1,729 children have visited a local farm and 3,423 have taken part in Farm School, from webinars and assemblies to early years workshops.

Connecting with people and the South Downs

Councillor Tim Rowkins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Net Zero & Environmental Services, said: “Farms have shaped the landscape of the South Downs for hundreds of years and today they are sharing their farms, expertise & working life with school children from the city’s primary schools.

"Brighton & Hove is surrounded by the South Downs, much of which is publicly owned, with rare chalk grassland and farms which are at the heart of nature conservation and the production of healthy, local food.

“Farm School connects the people living and working in the countryside with the next generation eager to learn about the very special landscape of the South Downs and its biodiversity. By making The Countryside Code film, the children of St Martin’s School are encouraging other children and adults to enjoy, protect and respect their local countryside.”

Lily, a teacher from Benfield Primary School, said: “Many children who struggle in a traditional classroom setting have flourished on the farm, gaining confidence through hands-on tasks. Since getting back, there has been a shift in how children think about food, nature, and sustainability – many now understand the effort that goes into growing what’s on their plate and have become more mindful of food waste.”

Enjoy, protect and respect the countryside

In the film, the children ask everyone to follow these 10 actions:

• Be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside
• Remember to leave gates and property as you find them
• Don’t block gateways or driveways if you’re coming by car
• Be nice, say hello and share the space
• Follow local signs and keep to the marked paths
• Take your litter home, leave no trace of your visit
• Always keep dogs under control and in sight
• Dog poo – bag it and bin it!
• Care for nature – don’t cause damage or disturbance
• Check your route and local conditions – plan your adventure!

Farm School Co-ordinator Hannah Tedman said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful farmers involved in the Farm School project. They have welcomed children onto their farms and shared their knowledge and expertise in producing food, looking after our local landscape and supporting nature.”

More information

Find out more about our Farm Schools project on the National Trust website.

More about The Countryside Code on the National Trails website.

About Changing Chalk

This project aims to reverse the decline of the fragile chalk grassland and bring local communities closer to the nationally significant landscape on their doorstep.

Led by the National Trust, the partnership connects nature, people and heritage. It is restoring lost habitats, bringing histories to life, and offering new experiences in the outdoors.

Find out more about The Changing Chalk Partnership.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund  

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. 

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.  heritagefund.org.uk 

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