CHRIS PACKHAM JOINS BRISTOL STUDENTS FOR A WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
This press release was posted on : 12th July 2010
CHRIS PACKHAM JOINS BRISTOL STUDENTS FOR
A WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
Wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham (Springwatch, Really Wild Show) is teaming up with The Organic Milk Cooperative (OMSCo) to encourage Bristol school children to get back to nature and discover what creepy crawlies and furry friends Hill House Farm in Dundry, Bristol, on Wednesday 14 July.live at
Situated on the top of Dundry Hill, overlooking the hustle and bustle of the city of Bristol, Hill House Farm has been in The Hurford family for over sixty years. Since they introduced organic wildlife-friendly farming practices over a decade ago, they say there has been a return of an amazing variety of wildflowers, insect species and mammals that had previously disappeared.
Students from St Anne’s Park Junior School in Bristol are invited to experience the wildlife on this organic dairy farm by joining Chris on a unique Hedgerow Safari. The event is hosted by OMSCo, which represents more than 500 organic farmers from around the UK.
The morning begins with an introduction from Chris and the OMSCo Hedgerow Safari team, before the group heads off to explore the farm’s hedges to see what wildlife they can find. They will be using a special hedgerow guide, sweep nets and pooters to identify their finds.
Chris says, “Children are increasingly losing touch with nature and there has been a significant change in the way that young people can access the countryside. It is a shame that some of these students may never have visited a farm before and we need to get them back into contact with the natural world around them. That’s why the Hedgerow Safari initiative is so important, it gives young people the opportunity to learn about our native wildlife, which on an organic farm is extremely diverse and even includes protected species such as bats and dormice.”
Gill Crane, OMSCo Communications Manager commented, “We are delighted with our Hedgerow Safari Programme and hope it will encourage children to visit our farms and help young people to understand more about where milk comes from as well as the benefits of organic farming. We know that for many years Chris has been a dedicated advocate for wildlife conservation and educating both adults and children on the environment and its care. We look forward to working with him to encourage students to explore nature for themselves.”
To find out more about the Hedgerow Safaris and how they can enhance children’s education log onto www.teach-organic.org.uk
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Notes to Editors;
- It costs the average family (family of 4, drinking 8 pints a week) less than £1 to switch to organic milk
- OMSCo is the only dedicated national supplier of organic milk in the UK
OMSCo was formed in 1994 when five like-minded
organic dairy farmers joined forces to sell their organic milk. Now with around 500 members, OMSCo is the largest and longest established UK organic milk supplier.