A group of Norwich school children met some real-life Easter chicks as they were offered the chance to go behind the scenes at a working south Norfolk poultry farm.
The youngsters, from Mile Cross Primary School, visited Frostrow Farm in Hingham to learn about different breeds of chickens and turkeys and how they are cared for and reared.
The pupils were taught about the lifecycle of chickens and were given the opportunity to feed and hold four-day old chicks. They also made toys out of recycled bottles for the chickens in order to provide stimulus and interest for the birds.
The visit was organised by the national education charity the Country Trust, which brings the working countryside alive for children who are least able to access it, whether through disadvantage or disability.
It was part of the trust's year-long food discovery programme running at Mile Cross and other primary schools in the region, which teaches children how to grow and cook their own food as well as seeing food production on a commercial scale on farms.
Sally Hetherington-Aherne, coordinator at The Country Trust, said: 'The farm was terrific and provided a unique experience for the children, none of whom had ever visited a poultry farm before.
'The children had the opportunity to ask lots of questions to understand more about where the chickens they love to eat come from. We really hope that this is the first of many visits for Norfolk children.'
The educational experience was organised in partnership with Traditional Norfolk Poultry, which grows and processes free range and organic chickens and turkeys on 50 farms across the region.
Hannah Morter, agriculture coordinator at Traditional Norfolk Poultry, said: 'We may even have inspired some children to want to work in the industry themselves one day. We endeavour to create a natural environment for our birds, close to that enjoyed by their forest-dwelling ancestors and we're proud to show this to the children.'
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