CELEBRITY chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has praised a village school for transforming it s food culture. Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, who presents the popular River Cottage show on Channel Four and is well known as a campaigner for ethical and sustainabl

CELEBRITY chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has praised a village school for transforming it's food culture.

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, who presents the popular River Cottage show on Channel Four and is well known as a campaigner for ethical and sustainable foods, presented Barkway V.A. First School with a Food for Life partnership silver award.

The school has been rewarded for it's commitment to sourcing food from sustainable sources for its pupils. All meat served in the school canteen is freedom-food approved, while the school's cooking club encourages pupils to buy and cook locally brought produce.

They have also struck up at partnership with Russell Smith farms, allowing pupils to go on farm visits as part of their lessons.

Emma Noble, director of the Food for Life partnership, said: "This school shows what real 21st century education is all about, which is using real life experiences to teach the curriculum and providing the next generation with solutions to what threatens their future, namely climate change and the obesity crisis."

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall added: "What makes this project so inspiring is the way that young people are now learning about real food in a hands-on way, growing and cooking it themselves. I would urge the Government to do more to encourage all schools to follow their lead.