Neil Macdonald, from The Orchard Pig, West Bradley, was one of the judges at this year’s Kingfisher Award Scheme Prize Day, held on 15 July at Home Farm, Curry Rivel, Somerset.
The Kingfisher Award Scheme was launched in Devon in 1992 at the instigation of the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes and his friends. This is the third year it has been running in Somerset.
The Scheme links children from Primary Schools with the natural environment through a Field Day, where they visit a farm to explore a wildlife theme. This year the theme was ‘Orchards’ and the children visited one of the orchards at The National Trust’s Barrington Court.
What they learned on the Field Day about animals and insects and wildlife was then explored in a Project they continued at their schools.
Finally the Projects were judged and awards given. 150 children attended the Award Day and enjoyed a picnic together with entertainment provided by a Storyteller, barn owls and bees.
The winning school keeps the Kingfisher Award, a beautiful hand-carved kingfisher, for a year, and each child receives a certificate and a badge.
This year the winner, Sedgemoor Manor Junior School, was also invited to bring the entire year group to the orchard managed by The Orchard Pig at West Bradley.
Runners-up, High Ham Primary School, received a cheque for the school and an apple tree to plant.
Neil Macdonald said “We simply could not believe the quality of the work the children produced. The standard was exceptional and as judges we had our work cut out making a choice.”
Sedgemoor Manor Junior School created huge painted insects for their Project. They sprawled across the floor and were an object of fascination to everybody.
Said Jim Gillard, Head of Year 3, “Lots of the children don’t get out into the countryside much. We wanted them to see what is on their doorstep.”
The children also enticed the judges with their home made smoothies, made from yoghourt and orchard fruits.
The judges were Dennis Silk, ex-teacher and Somerset cricketer, Neil Macdonald from The Orchard Pig, Henry Lang, farmer, Kate Merry from The National Trust, and Michael Brown, founding partner of Brown & Forrest Smokery.
Michael Brown said “It really opens the children’s eyes to so many aspects of wildlife. This is learning by discovery. Now, whenever they see long grass, they will know what’s underneath it!”
