Islay and Jura kids feast on venison for school dinners

In a UK first, young people on two of Scotland’s islands are feasting on local wild venison, with the meat being added to school menus on Islay and Jura. The pilot project is a collaboration between the council and Wild Jura, a new business founded by local business people Cath and Andy McCallum. Recognising the high demand for local venison on the islands, they established Wild Jura to include commercial butchery and processing facilities, enabling local communities to enjoy the bounty on their doorstep. The wild venison comes from Ardlussa, Barnhill, Tarbert and Ruantallain Estates. Children from Small Isles Primary on Jura played a key role in product testing, with their favourite dishes—wild venison meatballs and burgers—now featured on the school menu. Venison is a nutrient-dense food, rich in protein and low in saturated fat, making it a healthy addition to school meals. The new menu items are available in Jura and Islay Primary Schools and Islay High School. What the children said: ‘Having venison for the first time in school was great, and everyone absolutely loved it!’ - Ruby ‘I loved the venison burger because it was so good and tasted amazing. It was also great to be part of the taste testing!’ - Joseph "At first I wasn’t a big fan of venison but tasting the burgers and meatballs has completely changed my view.' - Grace ‘It’s the best burger’ - Rosie ‘I loved it! It was the first time I tried it!’ - Poppy ‘9/10, it was very tasty’ - Matthew https://trib.al/SzN968N