Children at North Lakes School have been enjoying their healthy, home cooked meals this year. This month they are learning more about the journey of their food from farm to plate after linking up with local farmers from Hadrian Organics.

School meals are provided by Carlisle based Orian Solutions, who emphasise the importance of fresh, local ingredients. Earlier this year, all children in Years 3 and 4 were excited to visit The Croft Organic Farm, on Cumbria Wildlife Trust land in Houghton, near Carlisle. During the “hands-on” day the children met and fed the animals, and learned about many topics from conservation to cooking. They took part in preparing an organic shepherd’s pie and fruit crumble.

And now food from The Croft is coming home for one delicious week - to North Lakes School. The Croft is run by Susan Aglionby and is part of Hadrian Organics which was Cumbria’s first Organic Cooperative. It was formed to sell good quality organic food direct to the public. They provide delicious, fresh, healthy food grown in North Cumbria. The cheese is made at Slack House Farm on Hadrian’s Wall; the fruit and beef come from Eva’s organics and The Croft just outside Carlisle. All their animals are free to roam. 

The school cook, Fiona Cousin, of Orian Solutions, is building her menu around the Hadrian Organics produce, and will be serving treats such as local beef burgers, Cumbrian cheese pie, organic lasagne, and traditional roast beef. All the puddings will be prepared with Hadrian Organics fruit.

Headteacher Mike Pincombe said, “The week’s menu should be a really tasty treat. We are very pleased with the quality of our meals already, and this link up with Hadrian Organics will teach the children more about local, healthy food and bring their learning alive. Low food miles really mean something to the children when they have seen the animals grazing, and visited the farm for themselves.”

Susan Aglionby agrees, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to experience the best of Cumbrian food and North Lakes School should be proud to be leading the way. Our philosophy is: healthy soil, healthy food, healthy people. It is so important to educate our children about where our food comes from. We hope they have a fantastic week!”