The Arran Schools Farming project was co-ordinated by Sarah Cook, Josephine Broekhuizen and Ed O’Donnelly of the Arran Arts Resource and administered by Ian Watt of the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust. The project was supported by the National Trust for Scotland rangers at Brodick Castle.
The arts-based project explored the link between the diversity of the island’s farming and the environment. The intention of the Arran Farming Project Project was to:
- Promote understanding of the outdoors as both a working and a wild environment through farm visits, ranger-led activities and subsequent arts sessions.
- Raise awareness of responsible access through first hand experience of good practice on farm visits and other outdoor activities.
- Increase enjoyment of the outdoor environment through well-structured and engaging experiences.
- Provide opportunities to explore and communicate ideas through a range of arts activities.
The Project was arranged to involve people by:
- Stimulating interest in learning about farming and nature in the outdoor environment (through farm visits).
- Provide opportunities for learning at firsthand from local experts, (farmers, rangers).
- Use the arts (school children working with professional artists) as a medium for the discussion, exploration and expression of ideas stimulated by the farm visits.
- Share ideas with other participating schools and the wider community through exhibition, drama presentation and digital media.
Lamlash PS
Lamlash PS developed their involvement in the project by first visiting David and Rosemary Glister’s smallholding at Aucheleffan where they saw hens ducks and geese for eggs and meat sheep and goats for milk, meat and fleece and pigs for meat. With NTS rangers they explored the surrounding woodlands for flora and fauna.
Whiting Bay PS
Whiting Bay PS developed their involvement in the project by first visiting Robin Gray at his Kings Cross organic market garden and George Nicholson at Lighthouse Caledonia’s Lamlash Bay salmon farm.
They explored a wide variety of shore life in the area of the fish farm with rangers from the NTS Brodick Castle and Country Park.
Shiskine PS
Shiskine PS developed their involvement in the project by visiting Colin and Laura Currie at Bridge Farm. At Bridge Farm they saw a traditional mixed farm complete with a retail farm shop, they saw different varieties of sheep and learned about their management and watched a demonstration of sheep shearing. With an NTS ranger they looked at species rich grassland.
Kilmory PS
Kilmory PS developed their involvement in the project following a visit to Charlie and Jane McAllister’s at Ceithe Gaoithe (Four Winds) Farm where they learned about keeping cattle and sheep growing crops and measures taken on the farm to promote a good balance between farming and wildlife.
They pond dipped with NTS ranger Jo Totty and identified a wide variety of pond life.
Duration of Project
The project ran from May to October and the children expressed the experiences of the outdoor visits through a display of arts and a drama presentation at Arran High School..
