Earlier this year, staff and pupils at St Peter's Church in Wales Primary School started up their own community smallholding, known as Fferm Bach.
In just a matter of months the project has grown to incorporate an impressive allotment, six chickens (whose eggs are sold locally), four goats and two sheep.
The area also boasts a wildflower meadow, wildlife pond and 'bug hotel'.
The project aims to enhance pupils' curriculum learning with hands-on experiences that support their understanding of food production, animal welfare, healthy eating, biodiversity and sustainability.
Something very special
“What the pupils and staff at St Peter’s Church in Wales Primary School have achieved with the development of Fferm Bach is something very special.”
NFU Cymru President Abi Reader
During Fferm Bach's development, the group's Farm Ambassadors wrote to NFU Cymru President Abi Reader to tell her about the project.
Upon receiving the letter, Abi Reader was so impressed with the school’s work that she went to visit the site on Wednesday 17 June to see it for herself.
NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: "What the pupils and staff at St Peter's Church in Wales Primary School have achieved with the development of Fferm Bach is something very special.
It was so inspiring to see how engaged the pupils are with all aspects of running the farm, whether that be caring for the animals, cultivating the fruit and vegetables in the allotment or taking care of their local environment.
Moreover, the empathy, responsibility and pride exhibited by the pupils as they showed me around today was incredible – it is fantastic to see young people so enthusiastic about food and farming.
"The hard work that has gone on behind the scenes at St Peter's is to be applauded.
What the school community has achieved, together, could very well form the blueprint for how schools in Wales should successfully engage pupils in learning about food production and looking after the environment.
I commend everyone involved in Fferm Bach for the hands-on learning experiences they've provided for the pupils. I'm sure those who are lucky enough to have this experience will benefit immensely from the learning and skills they've developed there."
