Many thanks to Judi for sharing details of this morning’s World School Milk Day event that took place at Briddlesford Lodge Farm in Wootton. Ed
The last Wednesday in September was chosen in 2000 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation as a day when the importance of drinking milk in school would be celebrated throughout the world.
Now in its 13th year, World School Milk Day was celebrated at Briddlesford Lodge Farm, Wootton, where Year 4 pupils from Queensgate Foundation Primary School drank Briddlesford’s ‘Buttercup’ milk, together with Andrew Turner, MP, Cllr Dawn Cousins, and Cllr. Edward Giles (who is also a Queensgate School Governor).
Proud to be supporting event
Mr Turner said, “MP’s throughout the UK are visiting schools today, World School Milk Day, to demonstrate the importance of a drink of milk at school in children’s diets. I am proud and pleased to be supporting this International event, organised globally by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
“Furthermore, on the Isle of Wight, all primary schoolchildren have the opportunity to drink Isle of Wight milk.”
“Delighted to welcome children to our farm”
Paul Griffin, farmer and host of the event at Briddlesford said, “Here at Briddlesford, we have supported this event for several years, and we are delighted to welcome children to our farm to show them how their milk is produced, letting them see and touch our Guernsey cows and calves. Our milk is creamy and delicious, and we get great pleasure from seeing them enjoy drinking it.”
Judi Griffin, organiser of the event at Briddlesford said, “We all know that milk is a natural food, full of goodness – calcium and vitamins for healthy growth. If children get into the habit of drinking milk at school, they will enjoy it for the rest of their lives.”
Experience they will never forget
42 Year 4 pupils from Queensgate visited Briddlesford last week and were shown around the farm, looking at the award winning pedigree Guernsey Herd. They were able to go into the fields with the cows and stroke them, and let the baby calves suck their fingers. It was an experience they will never forget.
Today they came back to the farm, enthusiastically drinking the milk again in Bluebells Cafe. They, and the teachers and helpers, were delighted to receive recognition for taking part in this worldwide event by being joined by VIPs. They were thrilled to see the baby calves that they had seen 10 days ago, were growing strong and healthy.
Children also had the opportunity to sit on the bright new blue tractor which had been brought along especially for the event by Lee Priddle of C and O Tractors.
Despite having to dodge the heavy showers of rain, the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
