Urban youngsters taste farm life

Wilfred Emmanuel Jones with the nine Young City Farmers

A scheme designed to give young people from urban areas an opportunity to experience the rural life has enjoyed a third summer of success.

Nine young people have completed the Young City Farmers Scheme at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester.

Each year a group of selected participants join a two week residential programme to immerse themselves in all aspects of the countryside.

From tractor driving to survival camping, catching and preparing food to visiting local farms, attitudes towards farming are changed as the students realise it takes hard work to make it a successful business.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE A university college based in Cirencester 820 students from 30 different countries currently studying The first agricultural College in the English speaking world Queen Victoria granted the Royal Charter to the College in 1845 HRH The Prince of Wales became President in 1984

The scheme was inspired by and run in association with Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, the Black Farmer.

Wilfred joined the students at the final presentation and talked to them about his background and journey to where he is today.

He encouraged the students 'to have a dream' and said that he wouldn't be where he is today without his dream of owning his own farm.

The young people who complete the programme successfully will be helped develop any countryside ambitions.

This support will be provided via a post-scheme monitoring scheme with the Royal Agricultural College.