FARMYARD and exotic animals, cookery for kids, stories of the countryside, tractor and trailer rides, children’s crafts and vintage farm machinery are just a few of the attractions at this year’s CountryTastic show near Malvern this Easter.

The annual event, staged at the Three Counties Showground, offers a fun and action-packed day out for families in Worcestershire and beyond.

This year the theme is fruit and visitors can go along to the Ask The Farmer classroom to learn about all aspects of fruit production including pruning, pollination, harvesting and learning about the role of insects.

Everyone’s favourite farmer Adam Henson, from BBC Countryfile and the Cotswold Farm Park, will be headlining this year’s show. Visitors will hear his ‘tales from the bales’ in the Ask The Farmer classroom, see him having fun with ferrets in the Wag & Bone Ring and he will also be signing his new book ‘Like Farmer, Like Son’.

Other highlights at the event on Thursday April 13 include Easy Peasy Cookery providing hands-on sessions for children where they can create fun fruity treats while GoFaster will offer children’s education about how eating the right things will help support an active lifestyle.

They will also be able to try their hands at chopping and tasting different vegetables and also learn how to make fun and healthy breakfasts.

Alongside the well-loved farmyard favourites, visitors can expect a few more exotic beasts including an armadillo, meerkats, lizards, a porcupine and even a friendly skunk.

Children can learn how to care for these animals and enjoy plenty of stroking and grooming too. In the Wag and Bone Ring youngsters can watch displays of Shetland pony cart rides and pick up some tips on training dogs from the Midwestern Gundog Group.

The ever popular tractor and trailer rides return along with a display of vintage agricultural machinery and even more pedal tractors for children to have a go themselves. A livestock ring and donkey rides are also available for children to enjoy.

Junkfish will host a range of free ‘make and take’ children’s craft activities. The popular Junk Ball Run and giant hula hooping will also make an eagerly awaited return. The Play Barn has plenty of other activities to help children let off steam including archery and golf.

Diana Walton, Three Counties Head of Shows, said: “We can’t wait for this year’s show - it’s going to be a jam packed day of fun for all the family.

“It’s all about engaging our families with food, farming and the countryside and there are plenty of opportunities for children to get stuck in and get their hands dirty – from bottle-feeding lambs to cheese making and cake decorating. There’s lots to do both indoors and out so come rain or shine CountryTastic has it covered.”