Newbury and District Agricultural Society brings healthy breakfast workshops to West Berkshire primary schools

Buttercup the wooden cow has been back helping West Berkshire schools to spread the word about healthy breakfasts.

Education officer at the Newbury and District Agricultural Society Jan Murray has been busy again organising a number of annual breakfast club events for nearly 400 pupils at primary schools across the district.

Pupils from Mary Hare Primary School, Meadow Park Primary, Springfield Primary, Chaddleworth and Great Shefford Primary, Stockcross Primary, Lambourn Primary and Brightwalton Primary all took part in the project — now in its 15th year.

The popular event ran over the course of three weeks in January, and has taught thousands of pupils about the importance of a healthy breakfast over the years.

“The breakfast workshops were exceptionally well received,” said Mrs Murray.

“Over three weeks, a total of 15 schools and 360 pupils were educated about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast.”

Each workshop followed the usual format of porridge and smoothie making first, followed by a talk with Buttercup the wooden cow before planting oat, what and barley seeds.

The emphasis is on the importance of a regular, healthy breakfast to aid the ability to concentrate and learn.

“This has been a very good way of the children learning about where their food comes from and making healthy choices whilst engaging in a fun workshop,” added Mrs Murray.

The society runs a number of educational workshops and events throughout the year, including a cookery school, ploughing match, potato challenges and autumn-themed activities.

The first round of its debating competition will be held at Little Heath School tomorrow (Wednesday).

Teams from Kennet School, Prospect School, Little Heath and Baylis Court School are all attending round one.

Schools are free to decide on a motion to debate and the three highest scouring teams will go through to round two, when they will be debating a motion on the theme of artificial intelligence (AI) and agriculture.

The second and final round will be hosted at Little Heath on March 12. Both rounds will commence at 3.45pm.