Family interactions with farmyard animals at Harrogate showground

Aimed at families, Springtime Live at the Great Yorkshire Showground offers insights into the way of life in the countryside through demonstrations, workshops and animal exhibits.

For some of its younger visitors the event is a first ever chance to see and touch farm animals such as pigs and sheep.

The return today of the rural showcase, which is held every Spring by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), has attracted thousands of people, with many taking the chance to try making bread and ice-cream, watch chicks hatch and meet children’s television character ‘Mr Bloom’ the gardener from CBeebies.

New for this year’s event was a mechanical horse to give children the sensation of being a jockey. Other diversions included a line-up of vintage farm machinery and a gun dog display.

Elizabeth Hudson, charities activities manager at the YAS, said: “Learning through fun activities is very much the theme of Springtime Live and it’s proved a winning formula.”