Pill youngsters follow the trail of food

Youngsters from two schools in Pill have been learning about where their food comes from.

Students from St Katherine's School and Crockerne Primary School enjoyed a series of events including walks through the countryside to discover how food is grown and talked to a local farmer who keeps chickens and bees.

Pupils also visited Penny Brohn Cancer Care where they learned about the former sugar trade business at Ham Green House where the centre is now based.

They also picked apples in a local orchard and took them back to school where they made apple pies.

Students also enjoyed storytelling sessions in the village's community orchard.

The stories each group heard were made up using clues that the students had found in tree trunk hollows and on branches.

Pupils also organised their own Bush Tucker trial where they prepared whole fish and cooked it on an open fire as well as learning how rabbits were skinned to be eaten for survival in the wild.

The initiative, run by community interest company Local Journeys, was held to tie in with St Katherine's School annual, week-long food festival. Experts including allotment holders, a naturalist, farmers and a sculptor as well as volunteers from the local community took part in the project.

St Katherine's School year seven assistant head, Sophie Tiarks, said: "We would like to thank all the team from Local Journeys and everyone involved.

"The students have had some amazing experiences and enjoyed them all tremendously, plus it was all here on our doorstep."