Despite lockdown, children can continue to learn more out our rural area, where food comes from and a big part of west Dorset - farming.

The Melplash Agricultural Society has launched Discover Farming at home.

With the society’s Discover Farming classroom at Washingpool Farm closed and unlikely to open soon, the team are keen to continue to inspire and educate children about food, farming and the countryside.

As well as keeping a list on discoverfarming.co.uk of the free online learning resources available for children, parents and teachers, they are producing a series of Discover Farming home learning activities. The first is about sheep and starts with the birth of a lamb.

Each learning module has been compiled by the Discover Farming education co-ordinator, Katie Vining, and are suitable for primary school aged children.

Marcus Beresford, society director and Discover Farming programme chairman, said: “All of us in the Melplash Agricultural Society believe passionately that one of our most important tasks is to educate our local young people about food, farming and the environment and to inspire some of the most talented to take up careers in agriculture.

“Although children cannot come to the Discover Farming classroom currently due to lockdown, we can still go to them and are please to be able to offer free online learning activities that they can do at home with their parents or at school with their teachers.”

To find out more, visit discoverfarming.co.uk