Princess Anne marks fifty years of farm weeks for city children

Princess Anne visited Nethercott House in Devon on Wednesday last week, where the charity Farms for City Children marked fifty years. The Princess is Patron of the charity, a role she has held for thirty-five years.

Princess Anne with one of the pupils grooming the farm's horses. Photo: The Royal Household

The farm lies at Iddesleigh near Winkleigh, and was the first of the charity's three farms.

• Fifty years and 108,000 children

Farms for City Children was founded in 1976 by Michael and Clare Morpurgo. The idea was to give children from the cities a week on a working farm, living on site and taking part in the work.

Over fifty years more than 108,000 children and young people have passed through the three farms, in Devon, Gloucestershire and Pembrokeshire. The programme is aimed in particular at children from inner-city areas and at those growing up with fewer opportunities than others.

Princess Anne at the fiftieth anniversary celebration. Photo: The Royal Household

• The author of War Horse

Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best known children's authors, and wrote War Horse, later filmed by Steven Spielberg. He has been knighted, and his wife Clare holds the title Lady Clare Morpurgo.

The Princess greeted volunteers and staff from the charity. Photo: The Royal Household

• Horses, kitchen garden and woodland

During the visit Princess Anne met pupils and teachers from John Donne Primary School, who were staying at the farm that week.

In the old kitchen garden the Princess was shown what the children had harvested. Photo: The Royal Household

The children groomed the farm's horses and donkeys, worked on the vegetables in the old walled kitchen garden, and took part in the work on the charity's circular agroforestry plots, where trees and grazing share the same ground.

Princess Anne talking with the pupils out in the field. Photo: The Royal Household The Princess was shown round the farm by the staff. Photo: The Royal Household