A mother has threatened to withdraw her daughter from school because of a meat-free Mondays project. Pupils at the Ysgol Derwen school, had decided not to eat meat on one day a week as part of an environmental project. The school’s “Planet Protector” group decided to look at the possible links between climate change and livestock production.
According to North Wales Live reports, one parent, a farmer, was so angry that she considered taking her daughter out of the school and the farmers’ representatives also rounded on the scheme, describing what the youngsters are doing as a “vacuous gesture”,
Kerry Jones, a livestock farmer, said she was horrified when daughter Tilly brought home the school’s new meat-free menu. Dishes included Thai green sweet potato curry, potato focaccia, butternut quesadilla and vegan shepherd’s pie.
Flintshire council says if the scheme is a success, it may think about introducing it at other schools, adding that the youngsters wanted to encourage the consumption of fruit and vegetable as part of their “growing awareness and understanding of climate change”.
It was not an exercise designed to promote veganism or highlight animal cruelty, said the council.
NFU Clwyd chairman Paul Williams said the move showed a lack of understanding of the dietary benefits of meat, and failed to consider the high environmental standards to which meat is produced in Wales.
However, Ysgol Derwen, in Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, says it’s received just one formal complaint and it is believed other parents have applauded the pupils’ initiative.
Claire Homard, Flintshire council’s chief officer for education and youth, said the initiative was primarily designed to promote healthy lifestyles. She said the trial will be reviewed after half-term and will include Kerry’s views.
