FIFTEEN hundred primary school children from across Cornwall were greeted by the sights and sounds of the countryside when they visited the 2015 Farm and Country Days held at the Royal Cornwall showground, Wadebridge.

The two-day event, jointly staged by the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association (RCAA) and the Cornwall Food and Farming Group, welcomed 750 pupils aged between 7 and 9 on each day. The children and their teachers enjoyed a wide range of learning opportunities aimed at highlighting the journey food and drink products take from field to fork.

The Countess of Wessex visited the event during its second day in her capacity as president of the RCAA. The Countess spent time speaking to pupils, teachers and the many stewards who facilitated the event.

The Countess also stopped off at many of the exhibits that form the event. These ranged from farm animals, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry, to farm machinery that is used to plant and harvest cereal crops and how the grain eventually ends up on the breakfast table.

There were also a range of Cornish food producers in attendance. Showing how locally grown and reared raw ingredients are turned into more familiar food and drink products. Hands-on activities saw the children juicing apples, pasty making with Warrens Bakery and baking bread with Baker Tom.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.