A Successful Day of Learning at Ragley Estate
On Tuesday, 4th March 2025, Eat Wild joined Ragley Estate who proudly hosted an inspiring and educational event in association with LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) and AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board). Timed to coincide with National Careers Week, the event provided students with a unique opportunity to explore careers and study options within the rural business sector.
Hands-On Exploration
The day began with eight interactive activities across the estate, farm and farm shop, including a fabulous butchery demonstration given by Karl from Ragley Estate Butchers. The students got to watch Karl butcher a Fallow harvested from the estate, and rumps were then whisked up to The Hall to the Eat Wild team who cooked it up for the students to taste in the afternoon.
The afternoon was split into a fact finding mission for students from local producers and growers, such as Eat Wild, Arden Forest Honey, Jordan’s Cereals, Hiller’s Farm Shop, Lockwoods Salads, and the careers hub with organisations such as Ceres Rural, Savill’s, Claas, and the University of Warwick. Students had detailed worksheets with detailed questions to answer surrounding sustainability, the future of the British countryside and environment and career paths they might choose to follow, all linked to different areas of the curriculum.
Sarah and Gemima cooked up Venison Fajitas and some delectable, melt in the mouth, simply cooked steaks for students to try and were surrounded by hungry, curious and adventurous youngsters all afternoon.
Many of the students had not tasted venison before and were required to find out two examples of game and explain why the game industry is essential to the management and maintenance of countryside environments. They were engaged, interested and hungry!
Who are LEAF?
LEAF is a charity that promotes and supports more sustainable farming to create a resilient food and farming system for future generations. LEAF’s education and public engagement work seeks to connect with, build trust and educate young people and wider society to ensure we have a resilient food and farming system, empowering people to make climate positive food choices, driving trust and understanding of the agri-food sector. Ultimately, raising aspirations to empower future generations to be change makers in delivering more resilient and sustainable global food and farming systems.
A Hands-On Learning Experience
Around 150 Year 9 students from local schools attended the event, participating in interactive and hands-on activities while engaging with education providers, employers, and industry professionals who have pursued apprenticeships, further education, or careers in various roles.
The event successfully introduced young people to potential careers in fields such as:
Land and woodland management
Equipment manufacturing
Engineering
Environmental technology
Farming (including livestock and arable farming)
Food growing & production
Butchery
Beekeeping
Soil science
A truly valuable experience, with outstanding feedback from teachers, students and their parents and a number of requests for where to buy more wild meat. The future is in our younger generations and inspiring them to care for our countryside will ensure its health and vitality in the years to come.
