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Hollyoaks star Tina McQueen takes to the farm
The Year of Food and Farming has released a series of video clips featuring popular TV soap actress Leah Hackett, who plays Tina McQueen in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, putting on her wellies to spend a day on a farm.
Research by the Year of Food and Farming shows that one in five (20 per cent) young people have never been to the countryside and nearly a quarter (22 per cent) have never met a farmer. It was also found that nearly a quarter of young people (24 per cent) believe that lawnmowers are used to harvest crops.
The videos show Leah having fun at Blaze Farm in Cheshire. She can be seen getting her hands dirty, taking part in milking cows, shearing sheep, collecting eggs and making delicious ice cream. Blaze Farm is an open farm with sheep shearing, wildlife trails, a diary and even its own ice cream parlour – there are plenty of farmers across the country who open their farm gates each year to give young people a taste of the country.
Leah said, My day on Blaze Farm has opened my eyes to what happens
in the countryside on a daily basis. I would encourage everyone to experience for themselves the thrills and spills of life on a farm.
The video clips of Leah’s experience on the farm are now featuring in the Fun stuff section of the Year of Food and Farming website and on YouTube. Young people can also visit the website to find out how their school can get involved in the Year and also find local farms that would welcome them dropping in to learn more about life in the country.
Tony Cooke, Programme Director for the Year of Food and Farming, said, It is fantastic that Leah has supported the Year by spending the day on a farm and I really I hope the video clips show young people how much fun life on a farm can be, whilst dispelling some of the myths about lawnmowers being used to harvest crops!
To view the videos, visit Fun stuff.