THE Freemasons’ Grand Charity has donated £10,000 to Farms for City Children in Iddlesleigh to enable disadvantaged children from urban areas to experience life on a farm.

Farms for City Children is an educational charity founded in 1976 by well-known children’s writer Michael Morpurgo — who lives in the village — and his wife Clare.

Each year, the charity hosts around 3,000 children, many of whom come from disadvantaged back-grounds and have never been able to experience the countryside before.

Through participation in all aspects of work and life on the farm, the children are able to learn a range of new skills. The experience also demonstrates the benefits of an active outdoor lifestyle and educates the children in important issues such as nutrition and food production.

This unique opportunity is not only beneficial in terms of their education, but also builds confidence and life experience as the children find new activities which they are good at in an environment that is completely new to them.

Speaking about the donation provincial grand master of Devonshire Ian Kingsbury said: ‘We are very proud to be supporting this fantastic charity and helping young people to gain new experiences and opportunities in rural life. It is a wonderful cause. My wife Toni and I have had a long association with Farms for City Children and it gives us a very special pleasure in presenting Farms for City Children with this cheque.’

Tessa Stone, chief executive of Farms For City Children, said: ‘This enormously generous grant of £10,000 will enable us to provide nearly 60 city children aged eight to eleven years-old with a life-changing seven days on one of our three farms. Thanks to you, these children will have an experience which is a world away from their daily lives, living as part of a large “family” in a homely, child-centred environment.

‘In these peaceful and supportive conditions children flourish. Self-esteem and confidence visibly grow as they rise to the challenges around them, learn to take responsibility for what they are doing and take pride in their efforts.’