| 2017-03-29 |    |
From Tractors to Tasty Dishes
The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) took to the road to demonstrate the might of its volunteer force as it aims to deliver its charitable remit to connect children with the countryside.
Ten mighty tractors driven by volunteer farmers made tracks to every primary school in the Scottish Borders, covering hundreds of miles and visiting over 4,000 school children.
The driver on each tractor was ready to answer any questions the children had before heading off to the next school on the tour.
“How tall is the tractor?”, “How big is the engine?” and “How fast does it go?” were just some of the questions that the 30 strong volunteer group grappled with as the eager students filled their boots with farming facts.
Joining the tractor tour was MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and
Selkirk, Calum Kerr, who was at Burgh Primary School. He said,
“This was an excellent initiative to increase everyone’s awareness
of country life. Agriculture and rural industries play such a huge
part in the economy of the Scottish Borders and the task of getting
young people to stay in rural areas and work our rural economy
is vital. So congratulations to RHET for all their efforts in taking
this important task forward.”
As part of the tractor tour, RHET is creating a recipe book. Recipes for the book will be gathered from each school, with a focus on the use of produce from the Scottish Borders.
The book will be divided into multiple sections and will feature recipes by celebrity chefs. Ally McGrath, chef and owner of Osso Restaurant in Peebles, will feature as the main chef in the book. The award-winning chef will be providing one of his recipes and the book’s foreword.
The recipe book will be on sale in May, with the proceeds of each sale going towards continuing the work of RHET in the Borders. The books will be available on the RHET website and also sold at agricultural shows and at some of the primary schools.
Allan Murray, the chairman of RHET
Scottish Borders, said,
“The
tractor tour will make primary school children much more aware
of food production and farming in the Scottish Borders. With the
help of the recipe book, they will become familiar with what is
produced on local farms.”
After the tractor tour, RHET will be offering to arrange for one of their volunteers to visit a classroom to deliver an educational talk. These talks will consist of a detailed discussion on food, farming or any other aspect of rural life.
The tractors and freebies for all schools during the tractor tour will be supplied by Rose of Lamancha, Thomas Sherriffs & Co Ltd, Ancroft Tractors, Lloyds Tractors, George Marshall, Kelso & Lothian Harvesters, Rickerby, Henderson Grass Machinery, and Drew Oliver. Thanks also to Harrison & Hetherington Ltd.
