NEARLY 200 children have attended a city centre event to promote the countryside.

Farmers, food producers and schools joined forces for the regional launch of national Year of Food and Farming.

The event was held in the Yorkshire Museum Gardens, York. Children from local schools who attended the launch could milk Glenys the model cow and meet real animals.

Workshops looking at sausage and bread-making, on-farm food production, as well as vegetable tasting and growing, were also held.

Research conducted for the Year of Food and Farming campaign found that one in four children never visit the countryside.