by ‘Make the most of it’: Duchess of Cornwall reassures piglet on visit to charity farm
PUBLISHED:
16:20, 3 April 2012
| UPDATED:
16:47, 3 April 2012
The Duchess of Cornwall couldn’t resist tickling an adorable piglet on a trip to an ‘inspirational’ farm today – but was warned not to get too attached.
Camilla was told the week-old was destined to be turned into sausages in six months’ time.
‘Oh dear, well make the most of it,’ she said to the animal. ‘I know you will be well looked after, at least.’
Camilla was told the week-old was destined to be turned into sausages in six months’ time
The Duchess was touring Jamie’s Farm in Box, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, which offers residential courses for troubled inner city schoolchildren.
Many of the youngsters that visit the charity are on the verge of being excluded from school or have emotional or learning difficulties and little home support.
The sixty acre farm, which has cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens, helps the teenagers develop confidence and social skills through working with the animals – mucking out, feeding, lambing and calving – in a family atmosphere.
Of the 800 children that have visited the project over the last two years, a staggering 82 per cent are no longer in trouble at school.
The Duchess was touring Jamie’s Farm in Box, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, which offers residential courses for troubled inner city schoolchildren
Dressed in a tweed suit and brown boots, Prince Charles’s wife was clearly at home, chatting knowledgeably with founder Jamie Fielden about his remarkable project.
And she told the Mail that she planned to get some chickens of her own at Ray Mill, her private country residence, for her twin grandsons Gus and Louis.
The two-year-olds have moved with their parents, Harry and Laura Lopes, to Marlborough, close to Camilla’s home. Laura, the duchess’s daughter by her first marriage, also has an elder daughter, Eliza.
The sixty acre farm, which has cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens, helps the teenagers develop confidence and social skills through working with the animals
Camilla said: ‘We have chickens at Highgrove but I am going to get to some too, for the twins. I want to buy them three each and am just deciding on the breeds.
‘I took them to get some eggs the other day and introduce them to chickens. One of the birds came flying out of the coop and charged over, wings flapping. One of the twins was quite calm but the other was in hysterics.
‘But I think having chickens will be very good for them. I love them and the boys can feed them when I am away.
Meanwhile Prince Harry was out and about in London, left, while Prince Charles went to Cumbria
Prince toured Dove Cottage and viewed key pieces from the Wordsworth Trust collection, meeting staff and volunteers in the Wordsworth Museum
‘People don’t realise that the different breeds produce these beautiful coloured eggs – blue, green, pure white. They are very soothing animals to keep.’
As she left the farm, which was set up by former history teacher Jamie, 31, she told him: ‘This place is really inspirational.
‘It has a wonderful family atmosphere and the way in which all your friends and family have rallied round is remarkable.’
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Paul Champion
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