Boy, 9, shares passion for farming at country show

A nine-year-old farmer said it had been "amazing" to spend his birthday showing off his flock and teaching other children about farming at Nantwich Show.

Primary school pupil, Freddie, brought along his collection of rare breed sheep which he feeds and tends to every day.

It is Nantwich Young Farmers' centenary year and the annual event has been a highlight in the Cheshire farming calendar since 1897. This year, livestock shows, music performances and cheese competitions entertained about 9,000 people at Reaseheath College.

"Showing your land and your sheep off to the public is amazing," Freddie said.

Canines competed for the title of the most handsome dog

Freddie keeps his sheep in Burland and his rare breeds include North Ronaldsay, Silvernose, Oxford Down and Clun Forest.

Throughout the day, crowds of children gathered around Freddie and his flock to ask questions about their wool, feed and habitat.

After a busy day of teaching, Freddie said that he would not be able to celebrate his birthday in the evening as he would be too busy returning his flock to the farm.

In addition to the livestock, this year's show also saw the return of the cheese competition after a successful pilot last year.

Experienced judges and the public were given the opportunity to taste and rank various cheeses, all made within 100 miles (160.9km) of the showground.

"Nantwich is the home of cheese," said organiser Nick Birchall from The Cheese Shop in Nantwich.

"We were making cheese here when the Romans came and we're still making cheese here."

Awards were given for best soft cheese, best blue cheese and best cheese made in Cheshire.

Sponsor, David Williams, and organiser, Nick Birchall, with some of winning cheese entries

Sponsor of the cheese competition, David Williams, whose family has made cheese in the area for generations, had high praise for the event.

"It probably is one of the best shows in the country of this size," he said.

"It's what I call an old-fashioned show but with a modern twist - we've got something for everybody."