CHILDREN from two Pembrokeshire primary schools have been getting hands on to learn the stories behind where their food comes from and what to do with it.

Sixty five pupils from Narberth School and St Aidan’s, Wiston, attended the Narberth Food Festival Education Day on Friday.

The one-day pre festival event, held in the festival marquee on the Town Moor, gave youngsters a chance to learn directly from food producers and experts while also trying out some food-related activities for themselves.

Education day organiser Vic Dennis, of the Narberth Food Festival committee, thanked all the experts who gave their time as well as the schools for taking part.

He said: “We have had a wonderful variety of activities thanks to people giving up their time and volunteering to help and it has been fantastic to see the children engaged all day.

“There have been lots of happy smiling faces and everyone is going home packed with knowledge about food and where it comes from.”

Workshops included learning about food heritage and culture, from Carwyn Graves, author of the books Welsh Food Stories and Apples of Wales, and the work of Pembrokeshire’s vegetable growers from Abby Meyrick, of Puffin Produce / Blas y Tir.

Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society brought their Food Stori Bwyd project to the festival giving pupils a chance to find out more about the work of dairy producers from farmer Joy Smith as well as having a go at making their own butter by shaking jars of cream, followed by tastings including milkshake from Llaeth Preseli.

There was sausage making with the team from Andrew Rees butchers and students from Tenby’s Greenhill School helped pupils with the art of cake decorating.

A morning food preparation workshop helped youngsters learn how to use knives safely while chopping apples ready for the afternoon’s cookery sessions where they made apple butter and oatcakes for tasting.

There was also the chance to get crafty too. Artist Diana Brook and students from Redhill High School led art sessions making pizza slice bunting decorated with ‘toppings’ picked out by the children.

Every child who attended also received a goodie bag thanks to NFU Cymru and the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society team.