Aberdeenshire pupils learn about farming with support from royal charities
On October 30th 2026, the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNCI) brought together over 125 primary 6 and 7 pupils from Aberdeenshire schools to learn more about farming and the countryside on the Elsick Estate. Pupils toured the estate and learned about how the farm works, taking part in sessions on agricultural machinery, grassland management, cereals and crops cattle, local wildlife, and deer identification.
The RNCI has recently received £10,000 in new funding to support its work from The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), a UK-wide charity founded by HM King Charles III that is dedicated to supporting farming families and rural communities. This funding is helping the RNCI to continue to deliver on its mission to build a greater understanding of farming and the working countryside through free-to-access education for 3-18 year olds and their teachers.
This new funding was given as part of a ‘Rural Champion’ Award, won by RNCI Chair Emma Ruxton, at the tenth annual Helping it Happen Awards in Edinburgh, organised by Scottish Land & Estates. The award, which was sponsored by the RCF, recognised the significant and lasting impact of Emma’s work and came with a prize of £10,000 to support the RNCI.
The RNCI was founded in 1997 and has grown from links between the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and the Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS), together with the participation of several leading local agribusinesses.
Emma Ruxton, RNCI Chair, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to The Royal Countryside Fund for their generous support, which is helping us bring more children closer to farming and the countryside. Transport costs are a huge barrier for schools when it comes to accessing farm visits like this one at Elsick Estate, but this funding is helping us breakdown those barriers and create opportunities that children might otherwise miss. It was fantastic to welcome Keith Halstead and show him first-hand the difference The Royal Countryside Fund support, is making. We simply couldn’t reach as many children and schools without the support.”
Keith Halstead, Chief Executive of the Royal Countryside Fund, said:
“The RCF has supported rural community groups from all over Scotland and the rest of the UK for more than 16 years and so we understand the real impact these organisations can make. We were very proud to sponsor the Rural Champion Award and provide £10,000 in funding to celebrate and support the amazing work of Emma and the RNCI.
“It was incredibly inspiring to see the impact of the RNCI’s work first-hand in Aberdeenshire today. Taking children out of the classroom and onto a working farm is a fantastic way to support their learning. This kind of interactive visit is an excellent opportunity to help children engage with where their food comes from and encourage them to develop an understanding and affection for the countryside.”