THOUSANDS of children have been learning about farming and the countryside this week.

Children from 90 primary schools travelled to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's countryside days, held at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate.

The event was launched three years ago and this year featured for the first time a mini-farm, with animals including a shire horse, ducks, rabbits and goats.

The society's education advisor, Di Brabbs, said: "We have had a tremendous response this year. We're delighted that so many young people, many of whom have never been into the countryside before, are able to take part in this event."

The youngsters were also able to learn about healthy eating during the event.

They took part in a range of activities on a fruit and vegetable theme, including a tug-of-war, football matches involving larger-than-life fruit and vegetables, a puppet show and a fruit shy.

Children were also able try a range of unusual fruit and vegetables and take home free cress growing kits.

Rosie Denison, regional five-a-day fruit and vegetable scheme co-ordinator for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "This is a really great opportunity to get the healthy eating message across to a large number of children in an informal and interesting way.

"It is important that we target children as soon as we can, so that good eating habits can be formed early on in life.

"By approaching the subject through enjoyable interactive activities, we hope the children will be encouraged to think again about eating fruit and vegetables - and maybe even be tempted into trying something new."