Council to rear beef for dinners

School children in Bristol could soon be eating beef reared on behalf of the city council for their lunch.

Councillors are discussing buying a 200-acre field adjacent to the M32 at Stoke Park for the cows to graze on.

A council spokesman said producing the beef would would reduce the number of food miles and have a "powerful educational impact" in schools.

A feasibility study, funded by Natural England, will now be carried out to recommend what breed of cattle.

'Historic parkland'

Under the "Bristol Beef" plan the city council will supply meat to nearby schools under the the healthy schools programme.

Any surplus could be offered to restaurants.

The council's cabinet is expected to recommend plans to take over the land which is currently allocated as historic parkland.

At present the land is owned by developers Barrett and George Wimpey, who under a section 106 planning agreement with South Gloucestershire Council now want to transfer the property to a long term owner.

If the council take over the land they 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 yearly £80,000 to £100,000 costs.

The council's cabinet is due to discuss the matter on 26 February.