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Farming Today: Virtual farm trips and Flower imports

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07/07/2014

Virtual farm trips and Flower imports

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Virtual farm trips and Flower imports

Schoolchildren visit a strawberry farm in Kent without leaving the classroom.

The latest news about food, farming and the countryside. Charlotte Smith joins a primary school in London as they visit a strawberry farm in Kent without leaving the classroom.

Charlotte Smith joins a group of primary schoolchildren from London, as they go on a virtual visit to a strawberry farm in Kent. According to a survey carried out by the National Farmer's Union 84% of five to eight year olds would love to visit a farm, however a separate study, carried out by Tesco, shows that the cost of these trips act as a barrier for many schools. The supermarket has launched virtual field trips to farms and food producers in the UK and around the world to educate children about where their food comes from.

And all of this week Farming Today will be looking at the British flower industry. Around 90% of bouquets we buy come from abroad, meaning that millions of pounds worth of flowers and plants are being imported into the UK each year and with that brings the threat of pests and diseases. Farming Today speaks to Professor Steve Woodward who is a lecturer in plant disease at the University of Aberdeen.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Lucy Bickerton.

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