Clare and Michael Morpurgo started the charity back in 1976 to help connect children with the countryside and the outdoors.
More than 105,000 children have since visited one of its farms - Nethercott House in Devon, Lower Treginnis in Pembrokeshire and Wick Court in Gloucestershire.
In a new video to celebrate 50 years of Farms for City Children, the couple talk about why they set it up.
Renowned author, poet and playwright, Sir Michael Morpurgo said: “We realised all that time ago that a lot of children were missing out on the good things of life.
“As far as Clare and I were concerned, the good things in life were the countryside and nature. We knew that children were not seeing this, were not experiencing it. I think it was that more than anything else that we wanted to put right.”
He said it was time to “stand and stare”, something he said that is missing in so many people’s busy lives, and spoke about how much child poverty there is and that the need for getting children outdoors is greater than ever.
Lady Clare Morpurgo, a philanthropist, added: “When we set up Farms for City Children we had no idea how important it was going to become and now we know how important it is. 50 years later, it’s more important than ever it was. ”
Clare thanked those who have supported the charity over the years and the couple urge viewers to help support the cause for the next 50.
To find out more about school visits to Farms for City Children sites, as well as a special 50th anniversary competition for schools to enter, go to www.farmsforcitychildren.org.
