As schools across Scotland return for a new academic year, Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) is ever hopeful that face-to-face visits can resume after the October break.
During the last year, the RHET volunteers, coordinators and staff have been busy creating new teaching resources, running online events, offering digital farm visits, facilitating growing projects and welcoming some new people to the fold.
Back in May, RHET appointed a new chair, Alistair Marshall from Hardgrove, Dumfries, replacing George Lawrie who completed his busy four years in post, most notably for his hugely successful tractor tour of Scotland which raised £14,000 for the charity.
George will continue to serve on the board while working for Scottish Agronomy as their company secretary and managing director.
Alistair has worked with RHET Dumfries and Galloway since 2005 and has been on the RHET board for a few years, more recently chairing the RHET forum, which has given him a real insight into the work of the education charity.
Alistair recently retired as a Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) director and has just completed his role as vice president of RHASS.
He said:
We hosted our first farm visit in 2005 and although there have been many changes to the farm and the kids since then, we always enjoy showing the schools around and getting them involved in doing some milking, there is always a few comments that make us laugh.
“Educating the next generation about what we do is hugely important – but great fun too.”
