Arundel pupils reaping a bountiful harvest of learning

Julia McIntyre organised a Great Little Book Bake to raise funds for Arundel CE Primary School’s book fund, to tie-in with the Arundel Food Festival.

Julia and her husband, Angus, were at a fund-raising ball at Climping Village Hall last year when they won the chance to combine-harvest wheat on the Baird’s farm in the village.

In August, they enjoyed their prize, along with their four-year-old twins, Jack and Olivia, pupils at the school.

“Superb learning experience”

The next stage was a visit by the family to the Weald and Downland Museum, Singleton, where the wheat was milled. Julia described the exercise as “a superb learning experience for both us and our children”.

The family donated some of the flour to the Arundel school for a day of baking, supported by farmer James Baird and the owner of West Wittering’s artisan bakery, Bread A La Mer.

“The children had a superbly engaging talk and bread-making demonstration with Danny, the proprietor of Bread A La Mer, who really got them in the mood for their own mini master class,” said Julia.

Danny donated bread products to sample in class and sell as part of the school’s cake sale, which raised almost £100.

The remaining flour was used by Baird’s Farm Shop Bakery to produce goods to sell for the book fund and will be available at outlets including the Arundel Wetland Centre, Swanbourne Lodge Tea Rooms, The Swan, Gaskyns Cafe and Sandwich Shop, and The Edible Sandwich Co.

The Waterside Tea Garden & Bistro, the Duke of Norfolk and RWP Group also helped.