Show supports farms for city children charity
23rd April 2008Devon County Show’s official charity this year is Farms for City Children, which enables urban school children and their teachers to stay and work on their three farms for a week at time.
Show Secretary Ollie Allen said the choice of charity was particularly appropriate in this, The Year of Food and Farming, a campaign which aims to reconnect children to food and farming.
She said: “Our Show provides an ideal opportunity to enthuse visitors, especially children, about the countryside, instilling in them a life-long appreciation for their food and the way it is produced.
“We are delighted to support Farms for City Children, in this campaign year especially; it is vital for the future of British agriculture that young people value local food production and it is hugely enriching for school children from urban areas in particular to experience time on a farm. We wish the charity every success,” she added.
The charity will have a stand at the Show held at Westpoint near Exeter on May 15-17 to explain its work and receive donations from visitors.
Children’s writer Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare founded the charity 32 years ago at Nethercott Farm, near Iddesleigh in West Devon. Farms for City Children now also has farms in Pembrokeshire and Gloucestershire.
Chief Executive Helen Chaloner said: “Children are involved in everything necessary to keep the farms going. They learn hands-on about where their food comes from, the importance of caring for animals and the land, and the value of working co-operatively as a team. Unusually the rewards are non-material and self-generated: children discover an active enjoyment in life and sense of achievement, the effects of which remain with them long after they have waved the farms goodbye.”
The Devon County Show is a celebration of rural living in Devon – from magnificent livestock to fabulous food and drink, beautiful flowers and gardens - and is a spectacular showcase of country living. There is also non-stop entertainment, including thrills and spills with motorcycle stunt riders amongst others.
Ticket hot-line: 01392 353753
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For further information contact:
Ollie Allen, Show Secretary tel: 01392 353702
Anne Ashford, PR, tel: 01823 490965
Helen Chaloner, Chief Executive Farms for City Children, tel: 01837-55823
Notes to editors:
· The Devon County Show takes place from May 15-17 at Westpoint near Exeter in Devon.
· To find out more and book tickets online visit
· Farms for City Children, Bridge House, 25 Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1DL
