A PROJECT certainly provided plenty of food for thought for Basingstoke school pupils.

Year 3 children at Marnel Junior School were visited by various companies who spoke to them about food origins and Fairtrade.

Animals from Miller’s Ark, based in Odiham, including a pig, sheep, lambs and ducks, were brought to the school, in Shetland Road, Popley, where children stroked and petted them.

The youngsters also learned about Fyffes bananas and where coffee comes from.

Representatives from Basingstoke Consortium, an education charity, spoke to pupils about Fairtrade and food packaging.

The children also had the chance to try different foods brought in by local firm Vitacress, which grows various products including watercress.

Jackie Roberts, head of year at the school, said: “The idea was to give the children a greater awareness of the food journey, and what Fairtrade is all about.

“Every child was completely engaged in all activities. They all tried food that they had never tried before, such as pea shoots. They loved it.”