Dancing lessons with a Strictly Come Dancing winner and a tour of Highclere Estate and Gardens, where Downton Abbey is filmed, are among the exciting experiences up for grabs at a new charity auction.
Other offerings in The Country Trust sale include a private tour of Cosprop costumiers in London, the creators of costumes in Downton Abbey, Howards End, A Room With A View, Poldark, Game Of Thrones and Peaky Blinders.
An Archers’ script signed by members of the cast and donated by Tim Bentinck, who plays David Archer in the series has also been added to the charity auction.
Memorabilia provided by Stephen Fry, Matt Baker, and Jamie and Jools Oliver will also be available to purchase, with 100% of proceeds going to charity.
When does The Country Trust auction start?
The global online auction will feature more than 100 lots and run from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 10, hosted by independent auctioneers Lacy Scott & Knight.
Flavia Cacace-Mistry, who will host the dancing lessons for eight people and won the BBC dancing show in 2012 with British artistic gymnast Louis Smith, said she was looking forward to supporting the rural education charity which she said she had a “strong connection” with.
The Naples-born dancer explained: “As a professional dancer for over 25 years, I’ve always had a strong connection with nature.
“So, moving to a smallholding in south Devon has really given me a hands-on experience of looking after animals, managing land and growing our own food.
“Farming is hard but such vital work, which is why it’s great that children facing disadvantage are given the opportunity, through The Country Trust, to connect with those who produce our food and look after the land.”
The charity aims to help disadvantaged children in urban areas by giving them access to hands-on experiences in the British countryside to teach them about where their food comes from and how to grow and cook it, while immersing them in rural surroundings for up to five days.
Jill Attenborough, chief executive of The Country Trust commented: “All proceeds will help to provide transformative food and farming experiences for children facing disadvantage across England and Wales.
Recommended reading:
“Most of us live in towns and cities now, and many children have little access to green space, let alone a chance to experience the wonders of the countryside.
“It’s so important for their future, and the future of our world that they have the chance to discover and connect with the land that sustains us all.”
Those wishing to bid on lots can find out more information on The Country Trust website.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here