NETTLECOMBE outdoor education centre is toasting an award from the Soil Association recognising its commitment to providing fresh, healthy and nutritious meals to visitors.

The Field Studies Council (FSC) is a leading provider of outdoor education and welcomes in the region of 165,000 visitors a year – mainly schoolchildren on field trips – to its 20 centres across the UK.

Each centre provides on-site catering, using either home-grown or locally sourced produce, for schools during the field visit.

Staff at FSC Nettlecombe have now been recognised for the quality and freshness of the meals they supply by achieving the ‘Food for Life Served Here’ bronze award from the Soil Association.

It recognises catering departments in schools and other organisations, such as the FSC, that go the extra mile to make sure children are receiving healthy and nutritious meals.

Mark Bolland, director of infrastructure at FSC, said: “Our catering teams go to great lengths to make sure all meals are nutritious and healthy and prepared with fresh ingredients.

“This award is down to their continued hard work and commitment and demonstrates that our centres are part of a movement to lead the way in the provision of local, honest and sustainable meals.”

Ian Nutt, head of development at Food for Life, said: “Food For Life Served Here caterers are leading the way in improving food culture in schools and other organisations.

“Achieving the award is a fantastic accomplishment and a true reflection of a caterer’s commitment to serving meals which are nutritious as well as tasty.

“We know that good food is a crucial part of the day for youngsters and with fresh, healthy meals being served, students are equipped with the fuel they need for their learning and development.”

FSC is an ambassador for improving environmental understanding in communities across the UK and is taking the lead when it comes to reducing the impact of its centres on the environment.

By the end of next year its sites will have phased out single-use plastics and is on target to have reduced its carbon footprint by 40 per cent and to net-zero by 2030.

It is also committed to safeguarding and enhancing the biodiversity of the land it manages and is stringent when it comes to applying environmental and ethical criteria to the procurement of goods and services.