Goring, Woodcote and District Lions organised the trip to Rushall Farm at Bradfield for the select group of children who had been given the chance to stay in England.

Lions public relations officer Jon Solman said: “Each year a different group of very special young children are selected to come over from Belarus to stay here for a month, away from the radioactive poisoning ever present in their homeland since the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster in mid 1984.

“This one month of respite much enhances their health and extends their life expectancy.”

The children, aged eleven to 15, enjoyed activities, including wading in the River Pang, pond dipping, feeding the animals, tractor trailer riding and insect identification.

They were able to fish in the river, something they cannot experience back home as the water is too contaminated.

They also met donkeys, cows, lambs and a bull at close quarters, something many people in Belarus do not get a chance to see.

The visit to Rushall Farm has become an annual event for the Lions, who have sponsored it for the last seven years.

Source