A FAMILY focused celebration of farming, food and the Yorkshire countryside is set to take place near Harrogate this weekend.

A live link up to farms in Wales and the Cotswolds will be just one of the new features of this year’s Springtime Live event.

Once inside the event at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Saturday, April 13, all activities and workshops are free, including mini tractor rides to live entertainment.

There be plenty of farm animals for children to meet in the animal barn in hall two, and there will also be the chance to see lambing live on a big screen.

For the first time, farmer Tom Martin will take to the main stage to go live via video link into a dairy farm in Wales and a farm in the Cotswolds to see live lambing.

Tom is the founder of “FaceTime a Farmer” which has seen 5,500 school children regularly link to farms across the UK from their classrooms via Skype or FaceTime.

Nearly 150 schools across the UK already subscribe to FaceTime a Farmer to help improve the understanding of links between food and farming.

Tom said: “This will be my first time at Springtime Live and it will be terrific to take the youngsters live into two farms where they can see lambs being born and cows being milked on the big screen.

“Any schools can sign up to be part of the Facetime a Farmer project and this will be a taste of what we offer – live on the main stage at Springtime Live.”

Tom will be on the main stage in hall one at 10.30am and 1.30pm when he will link up with dairy farmer Abi Reader in Wales and Jake Freestone in the Cotswolds.

Elsewhere, there will also be ride-on tractors thanks to Ripon Farm Services, and live music from Mr Bloom from CBeebies and his band.

The Easter Bunny will also be visiting Springtime Live and was in Briggate, Leeds, on Saturday, from 11am to 2pm.

The public was encouraged to take a selfie with the bunny and tag in Springtime Live to be in with a chance of winning a family ticket.

Due to the continuing popularity of Springtime Live, entry is by advance ticket only and can be purchased either online or in Fodder, the showground’s farm shop café.

Charles Mills, show director for Springtime Live, said: “This is a lovely family event to promote farming, food and the countryside.

“Make sure you book your tickets now to ensure entry and once inside, everything is free. We look forward to seeing you.”

In addition to the above, the show will also feature an outdoor bike track, climbing wall, Tractor Ted Bouncy Castle and Digger Den.

Youngsters can also hold and learn about chicks thanks to Eggucation, and there will be reptiles and bug encounters, forest crafts and a Poppets Theatre Workshop with PQA (Pauline Quirke Academy).

Springtime Live will be at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, on Saturday April 13, from 9am to 4.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children or a family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) for £27.

These are on sale at springtimelive.co.uk or in Fodder and next door in the Showground’s offices at the Regional Agricultural Centre in Railway Road, Harrogate.