CHILDREN were able to learn about the importance of protecting rare breeds of farm animal while visiting the Royal Cheshire County Show.

Held for the first time on a Saturday, hundreds of families were welcomed onto the showground at Tabley.

And returning this year was the Cheshire branch of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, who came with several animals in tow.

The branch, which is based at Home Farm in Tatton Park, cares for a variety of goats, pigs and cattle.

Christine Hill, a volunteer at the Tatton farm of the Cheshire Rare Breeds Survival Trust, was delighted to share the story of these rare breeds with excited youngsters visiting the show.

She said: “It’s nice to see people out and about again. It’s a shame Covid has meant it not quite as big and busy as it has been in the past.

“I’m here with Golden Guernsey goats, of which there is fewer than 1,000 breeding females left, and Leicester Longwool goats.

“It’s so important to keep these breeds going and we’re here providing information about them, explaining how versatile their wool is.”

Christine also spoke of how close the Guernsey goat breed came to extinction during the Second World War.

She added: “The Guernsey goats nearly went extinct during the war as there was no food on the islands and when the Nazis arrived they killed a lot of the livestock. One woman managed to save her flock.

“It has been lovely to see children and families come and take an interest in the animals. If they don’t see them, they don’t know where things comes from.

“Our goat Emily has even participated in the Knutsford May Day walk.”