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Bristol City Council is set to be the first authority to rear its own beef cattle for school dinners. The council's cabinet is examining proposals to buy 200 acres of land to create a supply of local meat for schools as part of the ‘Transforming school meals' programme. The initiative could also exploit ‘high end' markets in local restaurants and local produce markets. If the council takes over the land, it will receive a £1.2m endowment from the developers' consortium which would be used to install fencing and cover other costs. Bristol hopes the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will also contribute through the Environmental Stewardship Scheme. A feasibility study by Natural England will look at the possible breeds of livestock suitable for grazing publicly-accessible green space, as well as the challenges of moving livestock across the city and creating new local supply chains. Peter Wilkinson, parks service manager at Bristol, said: ‘Grazing parkland is a low-carbon solution to grassland management compared with mechanical means. Producing ‘Bristol Beef' will reduce food miles compared with existing supply chains, and could have a powerful educational impact in schools in relation to healthy food and a low-carbon economy.' The land, Stoke Park, next to the M32, is owned by developers Barrett and George Wimpey, which under a Section 106 agreement with South Gloucestershire Council now want to transfer the property to a long-term owner. The council already markets organic venison reared at Ashton Court in the estate's restaurant. If the council takes over the land, it will get a £1.2m endowment from the developers' consortium which will be largely used to fund set-up costs. The endowment will also provide £40,000 of the annual £80,000 to £100,000 costs. The cabinet will discuss the plan on 26 February.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Bristol turns to farming

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