A TEAM of kind-hearted volunteers has been preparing the stable yard at Nethercott House for the children due to visit in 2015.

The beautiful Victorian property near Iddesleigh is one of three farms run by Farms for City Children, a charity set up by Michael and Clare Morpurgo that offers children from towns and cities a unique chance to live and work together on a real farm.

In preparation for the return of children to the farm for the spring and summer months, volunteers from Interserve Construction's 'Give a Day of your Time' project and Tim Russell and daughter Mali Russell from Teign Valley Heating and Plumbing helped to spruce up Nethercott's stable yard during two days last week. In particular, the team removed and repaired several doors on the stable, offices and other buildings.

Tracy Izod from Farms for City Children said: 'The work done by the team over the two days was brilliant. The paintwork and other work that needed doing hadn't been touched for 12 years so it was definitely overdue.

'They had to remove all the doors, some of which were big garage and stable doors, strip them down, repair them and then undercoat and repaint them. We worked out they did over £2,000 of work in two days completely free of charge. We are very grateful, as it something we would never have been able to afford.'

Many of the children who visit Nethercott live in some of Britain's most deprived urban areas and have experienced great difficulties in their lives. The property is a fully working traditional farm, and children who stay are fully involved in the day to day chores of farm life.

Alongside their school teachers and a member of Nethercott House's farming team, children are woken up at 6am to take on any number of jobs, from mucking out stables and looking after farm animals, to tending the vegetable garden.

Tracy Izod said: The time children spend here is hugely beneficial to them. Most of the children who spend a week at Nethercott have never been to the countryside before. One summer we held an evening barbecue and one child said he had never been to a barbecue before and thought it was amazing. When you've grown up in a tower block, it makes sense.

'They can't believe the freedom they get here. They get to breathe fresh air, collect fresh eggs, and get fully involved in the workings of the farm. Nethercott will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year and we have had adults who came 40 years ago get in touch and say it is an experience they have never forgotten. That's proof we make lifelong memories here.'

If you would like to volunteer for Farms for City Children at Nethercott House, call Lee on 01837 810785.