Exmoor Game School
The Exmoor Game School was established in 2024 as a not for profit CIC to create opportunities for local children and young people to better understand where their food comes from and the similarities between game meat and Exmoor’s excellent farmed meat. Established in 2024 as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), the Exmoor Game School (EGS) aims to provide local children and young people with opportunities to deepen their understanding of food sources. A key focus is highlighting the parallels between game meat and the high-quality farmed meat produced on Exmoor. Set up by Darren Sherwood, a qualified teacher, the EGS has gone from strength to strength since the inception of the project.
FiPL Grant Request: £44,726.55
Total Project Cost: £51,973.75
Exmoor Game School
Darren approached the Exmoor FiPL team to talk about his passion for educating children and his belief in connecting children and families with the origin of their food, supporting sustainable farming practises and utilising the game meat available locally, with an exciting proposal to deliver free sessions in schools and on various farms across Exmoor. Children also have the opportunity to learn the whole process of how to catch, humanely dispatch, dress, cook and then eat the trout they have caught. Exmoor Game School has made connections across Exmoor and also run adult venison butchery, fly fishing experiences and smoking courses to help support the children’s provision.
Watch the video for a snapshot of children learning venison butchery skills.
Since the initial enquiry FiPL has funded 79 sessions for groups of children, a chiller trailer, deer hoist, pop up gazebo, website redesign, and small items to run the sessions including steel tables, fly fishing rods and fishing nets. The half day sessions focus on either rabbit, partridge, pheasant, trout or venison and the participants start by butchering and preparing the meat prior to cooking and enjoying a meal together, whilst talking about what it takes to produce farmed and game meat focusing on sustainable principles.
To the end of December 2025 Darren and his small team of volunteers have delivered sessions to over 1400 children and young people across the Greater Exmoor area. The sessions are designed to match the age and ability of the group and quickly sell out.
The FiPL team are pleased to be supporting such an innovative project which is educating children and young people across Exmoor and beyond. The feedback for Exmoor Game School is overwhelmingly positive.
“You are doing an ace job Darren. The Best! Connecting people with food and giving kids (and parents) the tools to make informed choices on what they eat.”
“It has been a great pleasure working with you for a great cause. Here’s to many more.”
“Exmoor Game School is what every child should have the chance to experience. Darren loves nothing more than to educate young and old about country sports and the beauty of wild food.”
“Well done Darren et al”
“Best morning of hands on learning. Thank you so much”
“Jacob has not stopped talking about it since- he had such a good time and was so proud to show his Daddy the trout (which was delicious by the way)!. Thank you so much”
“Brilliant, this should be done right across the country. Well done Exmoor Game School”