CHILDREN from Spreyton and Copplestone Primary Schools will be among more than 1,200 children from 30 other schools across the county attending an event to take children on the food journey from field to plate.

"Farm Wise Devon" will enable children to discover the best of Devon's farm produce at a first of it's kind event in the county at Westpoint Arena, near Exeter on Tuesday, October 22.

The County Council-arranged event will show young people how good food and drink is produced on Devon's farms, with practical demonstrations from 14 council tenant farmers, and additional support from the Devon County Agricultural Association, Bicton College and Devon Young Farmers' Club.

Divided into different zones - dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, fruit, vegetable, arable, wildlife, and food and environmental - farmers will be passing on their knowledge and expertise and involving children in the steps from raw material through to manufactured products that they are familiar with.

"We want children to get a real touch, feel and smell of farming and farm production in a safe and fun environment," said Councillor Jerry Brook, Chairman of Devon County Council's Farms Estate Committee, who farms near Crediton.

He added: "Children will see cows being milked, sheep being shorn and learn how local produce such as cheese and smoothies are made.

"We're hoping they'll see eggs hatching on the day, discover how their favourite fruit and vegetables are grown and how products such as fruit juice are made.

"We would like children to take away an understanding of where the products they see on the shelves come from, and hopefully an appreciation of how important farming is to Devon.

"Farming also has an impact on the environment and our wildlife, so this event will demonstrate many of the benefits that farming brings in support of wildlife and our green environment."

Barny and Marie Butterfield of Lower Parks Farm, Crediton, will be among those tenant farmers attending.