DALES farmers Sue and Chris Heseltine aim to put people back in touch with farming - literally.

Research showed that visitors wanted to touch as well as look and, using a Defra grant, they have converted part of their 600-acre farm on the Bolton Abbey estate in North Yorkshire into a centre where visitors can do just that.

Hesketh Farm Park will allow visitors to learn how their food is produced and give them the chance to get close to goats, donkeys, guinea pigs, chickens, and to feed lambs and calves.

Defra backed the project with a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant of £46,000 and Business Link provided vital advice to get the venture off the ground.

Mr Heseltine's family have been tenants on the Duke of Devonshire's Bolton Abbey estate since 1928, but the CAP reforms made it clear that other sources of income would be needed to support the business.

"A couple of years ago, we'd talked about holding open days so that people could see a typical Yorkshire Dales farm at work," said Mr Heseltine. "We realised that there wasn't an open farm in the immediate area and thought there was an opportunity which could be developed."

They spent three years researching what would make a good day out, and asked families visiting the Bolton Abbey Estate if they would visit an open farm.

"What became clear was that nearly everybody wanted to be able to touch the animals as well as look at them," said Mr Heseltine.

Visitors to the farm will be able to sit and feed lambs and calves in a converted barn. Other attractions include a straw maze, a toy pedal tractor circuit and outdoor play and picnic areas. Tractor rides take visitors round the farm to see the core business of 1,000 sheep and 25 suckler cows.

The farm is within walking distance of the popular Embsay Steam railway and the two enterprises plan joint promotions.

The Heseltines have been delighted with the help and support they have received.

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, enthusiastic advocates of close links between farming and the public, gave their backing from the start.

"This is a tenanted farm, so we have no real assets," said Mrs Heseltine, "Without the Defra grant it wouldn't have been feasible. We're very grateful for the advice we have received from the estate, Defra and Business Link."

Martin O'Hanlon, adviser for the Rural Development Service in Yorkshire and Humberside, said it had been an excellent project. The Heseltines were aware of the implications of the Single Payment Scheme and turned it to their advantage.

"As well as providing a valuable educational resource, it will keep Hesketh House as a working farm, ensuring that the farming tradition will continue alongside the new business," he said. "I'm sure it will become a favourite with visitors to Bolton Abbey - I've two young children and they're going to love it."

Hesketh Farm Park opened to the public on Saturday and is open from 10am to 4.30