MORE than 5,000 primary school children from across Yorkshire will be given an insight into rural life next week.

Youngsters at the Countryside Days event, at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, will also get hands-on experience.

The event, on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 12 and 13, will include workshops on pond-dipping, bread-making, bees and large farm animals and demonstrations of falconry, sheepdogs and sheep-shearing.

The Countryside Days were launched six years ago by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society as part of its programme to increase children's understanding of agriculture and the important role played by farmers in producing food.

Hazel Baker, the society's education advisor, said: "There is so much for the children to do, and they love getting hands-on and involved. By making it fun, they learn more about farming and how they can help take care of their environment.

"It's also a great chance to show the range of food and produce available in Yorkshire and show how it gets from the field to our tables - some children are surprised to learn that chips start as a potato in the ground!"