HUNDREDS of people filed through a West Devon gate earlier this month as part of an education initiative with Dartmoor National Park.
Greenwell Farm near Meavy welcomed in members of the public to experience what life on a working Dartmoor farm was all about.
Arnold and Bridget Cole, with their sons Neil and Mathew and working dogs Holly, Meg, Gyp and Tink, invited everyone to meet the animals, see the sheepdogs working, take part in children's competitions, and view the ancient and modern tractors on site.
Twelve green dots (recycled bucket lids) guided visitors around the farmyard, each dot giving basic information with photos.
First visitors passed the cattle handling yard, which led them on to the sheep shearing shed, where, as well as printed information, there was a sheep shearing every 15 minutes.
Dot number six featured horses, ponies, pure breed Dartmoor ponies and coloured Dartmoor Hill ponies, with pony rides. Eric the farrier was busy shoeing his two hunting horses, while the children knocked nails out of old shoes.
Green dot number seven featured machines old and new. An old Massey Ferguson 135 was alongside a young Ford, an old finger mower was parked by a modern drum mower, and a loaned old Series One Landrover could be found beside the farm Landrover. The farm quad bike was a favourite and a few people were lucky enough to enjoy a ride.
Dot number nine focussed on feed and bedding including square and round silage bales and one bale of round bale hay.
The large sheep shed was full of information, soil testing, a vet, a tree surgeon with an oak tree as well as cows and newborn calves.
The final information station dealt with sheep flock marks used on the commons and how walkers can use them to identify the owner of a lame sheep on a tor.
Dartmoor National Park representatives brought along a video recently made, highlighting the issues of struggling hill farming.
Mathew and young handlers James and Richard led Whiteface Dartmoor rams around the farm for people to touch and feel.
A working sheep dog demonstration was scheduled several times a day and was well received, as were the collie and hound puppies.
The farm workshop at dot number 12 was where visitors could enjoy a Greenwell lamb or beef bap, a welcome cup of tea and cake supplied by Meavy Church ladies and local Langage ice-cream.
Bridget Cole said: 'It was a huge amount of work to organise for the family but the interaction and stimulation between farmers, helpers, visitors and children was phenomenal — it was very apparent on everyone's face that a good time had been had by all.'
Greenwell Farm is one of ten farms on Dartmoor opening their gates to the public this year.