Personnel from the food and environment education sector came together last week to discuss ways in which education of these topics can support the national curriculum.

Speakers at the east of England event outlined schemes including the 5-a-day iniatiative and the healthy centre - growing centre project at Stibbington Centre, part of Cambridgeshire county council’s environment education service near Peterborough.

Martin Seymour, regional 5-a-day co-ordinator from the Department of Health, said: “Research has shown that eating a variety of fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer and combat other diseases. It’s important that we educate children and also increase the accessibility and affordability of fruit and veg. Our aim is to encourage children to eat more fruit and veg, to bring in the understanding of seasonal foods and get the positive message across that all varieties are beneficial, be it frozen or tinned.”

The conference also explained the objectives of the government’s sustainable farming and food strategy and highlight the importance of healthy food to healthy lifestyles.

Mike Barnes, of the government office for the east of England, said: “It’s important that through education we can create a better understanding of the connection between the producers and consumers and an awareness of healthy eating and lifestyles.”

Pupils from Burwell Village primary school took delegates on a tour of the Stibbington Centre, showing them various curricular projects they had participated in, including helping to grow vegetables and monitoring their healthy eating.