10 October 2006
Farms for City Children at High Moorland Visitor Centre
A stunning new exhibition has opened at Dartmoor National Park Authority’s High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, celebrating the Work of the charity Farms for City Children, through the photography of Chris Chapman and the late James Ravilious.
Farms for City Children is a national charity founded by children’s author Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare in 1976. Its purpose is to enrich the lives and develop the potential of school children from disadvantaged urban areas by enabling them to spend a week on a working farm in the heart of the countryside. Every year over 3,000 children and their teachers are welcomed to the charity’s 3 farms; Treginnis Isaf in Pembrokeshire, Wick Court in Gloucestershire and Nethercott, the flagship farm near Iddesleigh in Devon.
Nethercott is celebrating its 30th birthday in 2006. To mark the occasion, the charity commissioned renowned Dartmoor photographer Chris Chapman to record daily life at the farm over a six month period between autumn 2005 and spring 2006. Chris’ new work is exhibited alongside photographs of Nethercott by the late James Ravilious taken in the 1970s.
This fascinating exhibition runs until Wednesday 22 November 2006. The High Moorland Visitor Centre is open daily 10 am – 5 pm to 31 October and to 4 pm from 1 November, admission free.
Visit www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk and click on Learning/ Exhibitions to see major National Park Authority exhibitions online, including the exciting new exhibition, Natural Beauty, as well as Rangers, Dartmoor Crafts and Dartmoor Rock.
Princetown is accessible by public transport. For timetable enquiries please telephone Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 or visit www.traveline.org.uk (external link, opens new window).
For Further Information
Kate Wilson, Farms for City Children
Tel: (01837) 810573
www.farmsforcitychildren.org/site (external link, opens new window)
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are available on the Authority's website The Agendas are placed on the Authority's web site 7 days in advance of the meetings.
You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (see www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk and click on In the news).
News Releases from all UK National Parks (external link, opens new window)
Notes for Editors
Farms for City Children
Groups of up to 40 school children come to the farms with their teachers throughout the year. During their week they work alongside the farmers and learn to do everything necessary to keep the farm going. A well-structured programme of activities ensures the children are kept busy and stimulated. This can include anything from milking and mucking out, lambing and calving, feeding and grooming to apple pressing and cheese making.
Children also learn about the importance of conservation, where our food comes from, sustainability and good citizenship.
Forthcoming Exhibitions at the High Moorland Visitor Centre
•24 Nov 2006 - 10 Jan 2007: Moor - An exhibition of paintings by Pennie Elfick/ Jenny Graham.
•12 Jan - 4 March 2007: Tors - Images by regional photographers.
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,400 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
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This page last updated 10 October 2006
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Page updated 9 October 2006
