Bayer Crop Science UK’s new Head of Business, Marion McPherson, today handed over 80 pairs of children’s wellington boots to Dr Alastair Leake, Director of the Allerton Trust. The wellington boots, of various sizes, will be used when parties of school children visit the Allerton Trust farm in Loddington.
Alastair also showed Marion around the farm, highlighting the research projects that are carried out, both to increase biodiversity on the farm but also to reduce the carbon emissions and environmental footprint of the farming going on there.
Marion in passing on the boots said: “We are delighted to make this contribution to successful farm visits to the Allerton Trust, as part of our commitment to improving the understanding of how our food is grown, especially to school-age children. The Trust is an excellent example of how to produce high-quality, affordable food in a way that enhances the environment in which it is grown.”
Alastair, in accepting the boots, said: “We have many school visits to the farm and the Visitor Centre here at the Allerton Trust, many of them from inner-city areas devoid of mud and without the need of footware of this type. These wellington boots will really help our educational outreach activities, particularly on wet day visits.”
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 40 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
The GWCT’s Allerton Project: The GWCT’s Allerton Project is an 800 acre commercial farm business attached to a Research and Educational charitable trust. The Project was established in 1992 with the objective of demonstrating how modern efficient farming and environmental conservation can co-exist. The development of the education objectives of the Trust has expanded substantially to several thousand visitors a year including school groups, politicians and farmers, thus necessitating the construction of a larger visitor centre. The challenge of converting a disused brick cowshed into a sustainable building was given to architect Sylvester Cheung from Melton Mowbray. 60 per cent of construction costs were obtained as a grant from the Rural Development Programme for England.