Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Fife Countryside Initiative has reported a “busy and incredible” year.
Carole Brunton, project co-ordinator at the charity, summed up the past 12 months.
It was a year of “growth, learning and impact”, she said.
She added: “The demand for our educational services has continued to grow across the region.
“And we’re proud to have reached thousands of young people with inspiring, hands-on experiences in farming, food, and the countryside.”
16,500 Fife youngsters involved
Carole and RHET colleague Angela Mill have worked with nearly 16,500 young people across Fife during the past year.
The pair were the driving force for a wide range of activities.
These include 77 farm visits, Food & Farming days, attended by 77 different groups, and 102 classroom talks.
A number of special projects were also arranged.
RHET Fife’s Talk to a Farmer and Collie Tales online events, for example, were a big hit.
Carole added: “In addition to our work with children, we also welcomed 685 adults -including teachers, parents, and helper – who took part in our sessions, reinforcing the wide reach and impact of RHET’s work.”
“None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our dedicated network of volunteers.”
Carole also paid tribute to businesses and organisations giving ongoing support.
These include Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Quaker Oats, Kettle Produce, Fife Beekeepers, West Fife Beekeepers, Fife & Kinross Young Farmers, East of Scotland Growers and Growers Garden.
Farmers give their time generously
And then there are the many farmers who “kindly open their gates to local pupils”, deliver school talks or act as volunteer stewards Carole said.
All RHET activities are provided free of charge to schools.
“This is something we’re proud of and determined to maintain,” Carole said, adding: “To do this, we rely on essential funding and donations.”
Financial support during the past year has come from the likes of the Scottish Government, NFU Mutual (Cupar), Tayforth Machinery Ring and St Andrews University.
Other backers include Fife Council, Fife Agricultural Association, Central & West Fife Show, East Neuk Preservation Society and Ardross Farm Shop.
“Their generosity ensures more young people get the chance to learn where their food comes from and how our countryside works,” Carole said.
Three new team members for Royal Highland Education Trust in Fife
She added: “To keep up with increasing demand we’ve welcomed three new team members who are working hard helping to keep everything running smoothly.
“We’re also thrilled to have a RHET ambassador through SAYFC (Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs), further strengthening our reach and impact.”
240 kids visit Central Fife farm
RHET Fife Countryside Initiative’s last big event of its 2025-26 programme was a farm visit to West Gilston Mains, near Upper Largo.
A total of 240 primary school pupils from the Levenmouth area descended on the farm.
Carole hailed the annual Countryside Day as a “fantastic” opportunity for youngsters to learn about topics including forestry and woodlands, gamekeeping, sheep shearing, beef cattle, cereals, vegetables, beekeeping and agricultural machinery.
They also had the chance to try some pond dipping.
“None of this would have been possible without the help of around 40 volunteers from the Woodland Trust, QMS, Quaker Oats, Kettle Produce, Scotland’s Rural College, Â Fife Beekeepers and Agricar, as well as the many volunteers from the local farming community who acted as stewards taking the groups round the farm,” Carole said.
RHET Fife Countryside Initiative ended its 2025-26 year at the Royal Highland Show.
Carole said the charity’s Discovery Centre there was “a hive of activity”, with youngsters making pizzas, milking pretend cows and visiting a “countryside classroom| on wheels”.
What is the Royal Highland Education Trust?
RHET, founded in 1999, works with volunteers to provide free educational activities linked to the Curriculum for Excellence.
Its goal is to “give every child in Scotland the chance to learn about food, farming, and the countryside”.
Now with 13 countryside initiatives affiliated across Scotland, the charity’s volunteers are bringing farming, the working countryside and its practices to life for young people.
Conversation