THE Lions part Theatre Company present Lilies on The Land ? a Plough Arts Centre event ? in the garden at Torrington 1646 on Friday July 11.

Inspired by more than 150 letters received by the Lions part from ex-Land Girls, Lilies on the Land celebrates the astonishing experiences of four young women who joined the Women?s Land Army during World War II.

Drawn from diverse backgrounds and plunged into the unlikely role of farm labourers, four Land Girls tell their individual stories, revealing extraordinary humour, courage and determination.

More than 87,000 women, mostly in their late teens, volunteered or were conscripted to work on farms while farm hands served in the armed forces.

It?s only recently that their contribution to the war effort has been recognised ? the women?s Land Army were included in the Remembrance Day Parade for the first time in 2000.

?Most of them didn?t know which end of a cow to milk when they first arrived,? said Sonia Ritter, the play?s director.

?Many had never even been in the countryside before, and weren?t welcomed with open arms by the farmers.

?The ladies spoke of threshing when showers of mice would be thrown up in the air in front of them ? with many ending up in their overalls. They learned to tie string around their knees to stop the rodents running up their legs!? said Sonia.

?One girl even wrote how her farmer exchanged her for a cart of manure!

?The work was incredibly hard, but they had the strength, after ten hours in the fields, to cycle seven miles to a dance and still be up at 4.30 next morning for milking!

?We were amazed at their endurance and good humour,? said Sonia. ?I wonder if many 17 or 18-year-olds today could do what they did,? she said.

?Almost all the words in the script come directly from the letters themselves. We wanted the play to be a tribute to those ladies and, thanks to their wonderful memories, we hope we achieved that.?

Lilies on the Land is a powerful and highly personal drama that is true to the endurance, humour, affection and outrage expressed by the women who wrote to the company ? mingled with much-loved, unforgettable songs of the time. Nothing in the play is fiction.

Weather permitting, this performance will take place in the garden (otherwise indoors as The Plough).

It is advised to bring seating/rugs and you are welcome to bring picnics. The production starts at 7.30pm.