MORE than 200 disadvantaged children will experience life on a real working farm, thanks to a grant of £63,000 from Devonshire freemasons to Farms for City Children.

The charity’s founders, acclaimed “Warhorse” author Sir Michael Morpurgo and his wife Lady Clare, were both at Nethercott Farm to welcome members of the Devon freemasons and also took time to read to the visiting children from an inner city Plymouth School a story from one of his latest books.

The charity welcomes more than 3,000 primary school children and their teachers each year from disadvantaged urban areas to one of their three farms in Devonshire, Gloucestershire and Pembrokeshire.

During their seven-day stay the children live and work on the farm, explore the countryside around them and find out where food really comes from.

They also discover self-confidence as they conquer fears and grow in self-belief as they overcome challenges working as a team to get tasks done. They develop new friendships and learn to see a bigger, brighter future than they ever thought existed beyond their crowded city horizons.

For many of the visiting children the true cost of this fully immersive seven-day stay is beyond their reach so the charity subsidises every single child’s visit by at least £300.

The grant of £63,000 from Devonshire freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Tim Rose, Farm School Manager at the charity’s founding farm at Iddesleigh near Winkleigh said: “We’re really grateful to Devonshire freemasons for their generous grant.

“Each week we see children from inner cities blossom on the farm – they discover confidence, challenge themselves to achieve so much more than they think they could and revel in the great outdoors.”

Ian Kingsbury JP, Provincial Grand Master of Devon freemasons said: “I’m delighted we were able to help Farms for City Children, who do outstanding work helping disadvantaged children from right across Devon and beyond. The experience they offer these children can be life-changing, including improved behaviour at school which can give them a chance to make the most of their education.

“Being a local resident, it has often been my pleasure to be onsite when the children are there and I have seen the benefit they gain from their time on the farm.”