Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare have spent the past five decades running Farms for City Children, a charity that introduces inner-city youth to rural life through immersive farm experiences. Established in 1976, the program operates from the family’s Nethercott House farm in Devon and a second site, Wick Court, in Gloucestershire.

The charity was born from the Morpurgos’ desire to offer children, many of whom had never visited the countryside, an opportunity to connect with nature. Michael Morpurgo, then a teacher yet to publish his first book, and Clare left their teaching careers to create a space where children could experience farm life firsthand. Since its inception, over 100,000 children from urban schools have attended week-long stays on the farms, travelling each Friday by coach to participate in activities such as collecting eggs, mucking out stables, and observing livestock births.

The program aims to foster a deep appreciation of the natural world, as well as instill practical skills and a sense of responsibility. Children also engage in recreational activities like walking and playing football, and are often read stories by Morpurgo himself before bedtime. The charity’s long-term impact can be seen in the lives of many former participants who have pursued careers in agriculture, veterinary care, and animal husbandry.

Among them are Lou Challice, who first visited Nethercott House at age nine and has since become a veterinary nurse; Bethany Greenshields, a past attendee at Wick Court who now oversees equine and canine programs at the University Centre Reaseheath; and Sally Shepherd, who credits her time at Nethercott for inspiring her to become a shepherdess. These success stories reflect the charity’s enduring influence on multiple generations.

Michael Morpurgo, widely known as the author of more than 150 books including the internationally acclaimed War Horse, regards Farms for City Children as his most significant achievement. Serving as children’s laureate from 2003 to 2005, he has described the charity as a way to “pass on the best story we’d ever known,” a shared love of the countryside and the natural environment. His recently published memoir, Down Burrow Lane, pays tribute both to the charity’s legacy and to his partnership with Clare in nurturing the project.

Through their work, the Morpurgos have created a unique bridge between urban children and rural life, fostering connection, education, and a sense of wonder that has endured for half a century.