Kids' countryside day is rewarded with council cash

JAMES ROBINSON on a boost for an event that shows the value of the countryside to children who may never have seen a cow or a sheep

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> 30,000 children have enjoyed the Children's Annual Countryside Day

AN annual event that teaches youngsters from urban backgrounds about rural life has received a significant funding boost from Northumberland County Council.

Glendale Agricultural Society's Children’s Countryside Day (CCD) will receive £10,000 a year for the next three years to expand the event.

Now in its 19th year, the one-day interactive educational day gives children aged between five and 11 from across the North East a taste of farming as well as a wider understanding of the countryside. For some of the children, it marks the first time they see a cow or sheep in the flesh.

On average, 1,650 children get to enjoy the event every year. Since it was first held, 30,000 children have attended in total.

The issue was raised at a recent meeting of Northumberland County Council. Alnwick Castle Conservative councillor Gordon Castle called on the council to provide the funding.

“Every year the 135-year-old Glendale Agricultural Society hosts around 1,700 children at the highly successful Children’s Countryside Day,” he said.

“Given the importance of involving young people in rural affairs for the future of farming and our countryside, I am asking the cabinet member for children’s services if we could consider some financial support for this celebrated event?