PRIMARY SCHOOL
Farm-to-Fork Experience at Lidl Farm
This interactive tour is not to be missed. It will afford your class with an opportunity to learn more about the true journey of food, from planting and harvesting, to packaging and distribution.
A unique experience for primary school students
Lidl has turned 8.5 acres at its distribution centre in Newbridge, Co. Kildare into a free educational resource. The initiative is supported by Agri Aware and Meade Farm, one of Lidl’s key suppliers.
Visitors immerse themselves in the journey of Farm to Fork through educational activities.
Students will be introduced to the foundations of growing through our Soil Station and Planted Polytunnels, the importance of biodiversity through our new Biodiversity Station and insect hotel and the prevalence of Irelands dairy industry in our brand-new Dairy Shed.
This FREE experience even includes a train tour of Lidl’s Regional Distribution Centre, connecting students with the full journey of food from farm to fork.
Alignment with National Primary School Curriculum
The Lidl Farm-to-Fork Experience gives primary school students an engaging, hands-on understanding of how food is produced, from the fundamentals of healthy soil and crop growing; to sustainable farming and dairy production.
Developed by Agri Aware Education Officers, and aligned with the 2025 NCCA Primary School Curriculum, the programme supports learning across Social and Environmental Education (SEE), STEM and Wellbeing.
Through interactive activities in the polytunnels and cow shed, students explore topics including soil health, plant growth, biodiversity, sustainability, animal care and food production. The experience encourages curiosity, critical thinking and environmental responsibility while helping children build a meaningful connection with Irish farming and the journey of food, from farm-to-fork.
What's on the Lidl Farm Tour?
Farm-to-Fork: Discover the journey of our food through the places and people involved in taking our food from farm to fork.
Soil Health: Explore the foundational role our soil has in food production and investigate the role of insects in supporting crop growth.
Polytunnels: Investigate the conditions needed for plant growth and the stages of growth through our planted polytunnels.
Dairy Shed: Learn about the role that animal nutrition plays in producing top quality food; and how modern Irish dairy farms operate.
Train Tour: Observe the workings of the Lidl Regional Distribution Centre, and how products are sorted and circulated to stores.
Meet Ciara Dillon
Education and Farm Experience Officer
Agri Aware develops and delivers the educational content at the Lidl Farm, and Ciara is based there during term time to facilitate school tours.
Ciara is passionate about connecting students to where their food comes from through interactive experiences. Ciara believes that creating an understanding of the journey of our food, fosters an appreciation of the agri-food sector for generations to come.
What teachers have said…
The group I had with me are all from the town and would not have any experience with growing veg; only what we would do in school. When asked where we get milk or potatoes, the answer is generally "from the shop". It really gives them a true idea of where our food comes from before it reaches the shops or our tables.
For urban based children in a hugely disadvantaged area, this experience was mind blowing. After our visit, we bought seeds from Lidl to create a school garden - this level of engagement would not have been possible without the trip to the Farm-to-Fork experience.
Our trip to the Lidl Farm was such a positive experience. Our guide listened to the childrens questions, and she answered everything in an age appropriate way. I would highly recommend to other schools and would love to go again.
