A FARM that boasts some of the finest hay meadows in England has opened a new education and training centre.

Carrs Farm, which overlooks Wolsingham, in Weardale, hopes to attract naturalists, ecotourists and schoolchildren from all over the country.

The land has been traditionally and sympathetically farmed for three generations and today rears Aberdeen Angus cattle on an organic system.

The farm lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has a range of highly-valued habitats, which attract a wide range of birds, including oystercatchers, skylarks, barn owls and redshanks.

The Henderson family were looking to diversify in a way that would recognise the hard work and preservation carried out by Alan Thompson, their grandfather.

He took over Carrs Farm from his grandparents in 1936 and ran it until 2003 when his granddaughter, Joy Henderson, took over.

She has managed to secure a grant of just over £63,000 from One North East’s Rural Development Programme for England.

The money helped her develop the education and training centre, which is aimed at a wide range of youth groups, schools, colleges and other organisations with a focus on conservation, ecology and environmental issues.

The centre is housed in a converted, traditional farm building and has accommodation for 21 people. A communal living area/classroom includes catering and washing facilities. It is expected to create up to nine jobs by 2011.

Mrs Henderson said: “Our land boasts some of the finest hay meadows in England according to the AONB with marsh areas rich in flora and specially protected for breeding waders.

“There is an ancient woodland with a stream flowing through it that is rich in botanical interest.

“There are also several rare bird species that visit and nest on site, so it seemed that our farm was an invaluable site for conservation and educational work and study and was an opportunity that we had to embrace.”

She said the centre was a real achievement for the family and would not have been possible but for Mr Thompson’s hard work and love of farming and preserving the land for future generations.

Mrs Henderson said: “We have already received vast interest from people wishing to stay here with quite a few bookings and we have only just officially opened so we are very pleased and grateful for the RDPE grant to help us get this exciting project off the ground.”

The business has organic status and entered the higher