Willow weaving, sheep shearing, ferret racing and falconry displays will be enjoyed by thousands of city school children this week as countryside life is brought to the borough.

Pupils from Chingford CofE Primary, Normanhurst School and St Joseph’s Junior School, were the first to enjoy the educational countryside show, Countryside Live, which returned to Leyton Marsh on Lea Bridge Road for its 12th year, today.

Children had the chance to meet a range of animals including bats, bees, snakes, otters and traditional farmyard animals.

Organisers hope it will help the children to understand where food comes from and what life is like in the countryside.

Teachers from across the borough said the show allows the children to see things that they would not normally have access to.

Kirsty Efreme, Year 3 teacher at Chingford Church of England Primary School said: “The children were lucky enough to go in with the birds of prey and have an owl fly through them, and we’ve enjoyed the ferret racing.

“Just seeing the geese and the beagles was great, it’s not something the children often get to see.”

Teacher Marula Pantelli from St. Joseph’s Junior School in Leyton said: “We come down every year because a lot of the children at the school don’t get to see animals and it’s a really good opportunity for them to learn about the countryside.

“They love it. I think the most popular stand was the sheep shearing, I don’t think any of the kids had ever seen that”

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority was awarded a ‘Learning Outside the Classroom’ badge for events such as ‘countryside live’.

The public weekend event will be held at Leyton Marsh this weekend between 10am and 5pm.

Adult entry costs £5 for a single day pass and £7 for two day pass and kids go for free.