Norfolk member and NFU Farmers for Schools Ambassador Tim Papworth visited Earlham Nursery School to speak to children about the food produced on his farm at Felmingham, near North Walsham, as well as the wildlife living there.聽
He was joined by Norfolk Young Farmers鈥� Club Co-Chair and NFU member Alice Saunders, who works for agricultural machinery supplier Ben Burgess, in Norwich, and who brought a tractor into the school.
A new relationship
The day marks the start of a new relationship between the NFU and the school, which is in an area of high social deprivation west of Norwich city centre.
91仓库will help to promote the school鈥檚 community supermarket, which offers discounted food and other items to people in the surrounding area, and will look to hold more talks there in the future.
Tim Papworth donated three bags of potatoes to the community supermarket.
He said: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so important for children to understand where their food comes from 鈥� especially in city schools like this one, where some children may have never seen a farm.
鈥淓ven if they don鈥檛 go on to work in agriculture, they can still benefit hugely from having an understanding about where their food comes from.鈥�
Norfolk Young Farmers鈥� Club Co-Chair and NFU member Alice Saunders
鈥淭hat understanding can lead to the children going on to support British farmers when they grow up.鈥�
Alice Saunders said: 鈥淚鈥檓 massively passionate about children being given opportunities like this to learn about how their food is produced.
鈥淓ven if they don鈥檛 go on to work in agriculture, they can still benefit hugely from having an understanding about where their food comes from. Often, the children go away from events like this to educate their parents about why it is important to support local farmers.鈥�
Community supermarket
Headteacher Carole Jacques said there are high levels of poverty in the area and associated challenges such as household debt, adult and child mental health concerns and safeguarding worries.
She wants to ensure children and adults in the community can access healthy, nutritious, local produce.
The school opened its on-site community supermarket in December 2023, offering reduced price, or free, food and household items.
Since January 2025, it has been open to any household who lives within its reach area.聽
Carole Jacques said: 鈥淎 huge thanks to the NFU for organising this day 鈥� the children have absolutely loved it. Days like this are invaluable for giving them life experiences.
鈥淚t has been great to build this link with the NFU as we are reaching out to the farming community to source fresh healthy and nutritious food for our community supermarket."
They are looking for small donations of food, including wonky veg, and would also be happy to pay for produce and to collect it.
Anyone who can help to support the community supermarket can contact Mrs Jacques by calling 01603 454271 or emailing [email protected].
Interested in becoming a Farmers for Schools ambassador?聽Find out more.
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NFU Farmers for Schools ambassador Tim Papworth talking to some of the children about his work as a farmer in Norfolk.
