Helen Rebanks becomes ambassador for rural education petition

Helen Rebanks, best-selling author of The Farmer's Wife, is passionate about education and joined Farmers Guardian's joint petition to get farming into schools

clock • 1 min read
Helen Rebanks
Image:

Helen Rebanks

The petition, founded by sheep farmer and former teacher Olivia Shave, aims to put food and farming at the heart of education. 

With nearly 9,000 signatures, to be considered in Parliament the petition needs 10,000 signatures by May.

Helen Rebanks, Lake District hill farmer and best-selling author of The Farmer's Wife, is now an ambassador of the campaign, and says there is a lack of understanding about where food comes from. 

She says: " There is still a massive gap between producer and consumer in terms of understanding food and farming in the UK.

Farming in schools

"Getting children out of classrooms and onto farms is essential in helping them learn where real food comes from and what it takes to grow it.

"We have been hosting school visits on our farm for more than ten years - it is exhausting but incredibly rewarding work.

"Every child in the country should have an understanding of the different kinds of farming that we all rely on for our three meals a day. And helping teachers and parents to learn more about land use and food systems is key too, because when people know where and how their food is grown they can make informed choices about what they eat, and better support our children's learning."

Other ambassadors include Scottish shepherdess Emma Gray, and Irish farmer Becky Cole.

Visit the Food Farming Education Instagram page here for more information

 

More on Young Farmers and Careers

Careers, community and opportunity: why farming is still the best career in the world

Careers, community and opportunity: why farming is still the best career in the world

From career progression to community spirit and real-world impact, FG’s Tom Ryder explains why there are still plenty of reasons to be positive about farming

clock 04 April 2026 • 3 min read
McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer: Louise Summerson – "My passion for agriculture has been instilled in me from a young age"

McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer: Louise Summerson – "My passion for agriculture has been instilled in me from a young age"

Louise Summerson is a young farmer who is part of the McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmer programme

Louise Summerson
clock 02 April 2026 • 5 min read
Careers: Is a role in agri-tech right for you?

Careers: Is a role in agri-tech right for you?

The agricultural sector is finally gaining recognition for the wide range of career opportunities it offers, from hands-on farm roles to positions in areas like food production and supply chain management. The agri-tech sector, in particular, has seen significant growth. But what does it take to build a career in this exciting field and why should you consider it? Farmers Guardian finds out more

clock 25 March 2026 • 3 min read