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Rural education charity stalwart vies for top award

Martin Birse
Martin Birse

A Moray farmer with a passion for educating children about food and farming is in the running for a prestigious award.

Martin Birse, the farm manager at Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, has been put forward for a lifetime achievement award with the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC).

He was nominated by the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNCI), the rural education charity which operates across Moray, Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire.

Mr Birse has been working with the charity for more than 10 years and has been on its board of directors since 2006. He has previously served as chairman and vice-chairman, and is currently the charity’s treasurer.

The charity is now urging people to vote for Mr Birse to win the LOtC award.

RNCI development officer Rachel Heydon said: “During the past year alone, Martin has stewarded groups of children around the Royal Northern Spring Show. He was instrumental in organising the Totally Tatties project, which saw over 1,000 pupils in the north-east of Scotland given the opportunity to grow their own potatoes. He assisted with the running of two farmers’ markets in secondary schools and he attended the Royal Highland Show where he volunteered in the education centre. And all this in addition to hosting farm visits for school groups.”

In the past academic year, he hosted nearly 350 schoolchildren to Pitgaveny Farms, which he has managed since 1986, as well as holding an open farm day in May which saw more than 3,000 members of the public visit the farm to learn about where their food comes from.

Mrs Heydon said: “Martin’s enthusiasm always shines through. It’s clear to see that he takes delight in witnessing the pleasure that children get from the whole farm visit experience, particularly those who have never had the opportunity to see farm animals up close.”

As well as being involved with RNCI, Mr Birse is a board member of the Royal Highland Education Trust and REAP Scotland, which is a local environmental and sustainable development charity.

Those wishing to vote for Mr Birse to win the award can do so online at www.lotc.org.uk/news-and-events/awards-for-outstanding-contribution-to-lotc/

Voting closes on Friday, November 13, and the winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on Thursday, November 26.