Nowadays there is much support for conservation of the countryside and for landowners and gardeners to work for biodiversity – birds, butterflies, wildflowers, native mammals.

At the same time farming is expected to produce food for our tables; to cut down on the ‘food miles’.

In the past 50 years this has meant more and more commercial, productive, animal breeds and crop varieties being introduced.

In 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed by a small group of farsighted farmer-conservationists to preserve the old varieties of farm animals that were fast becoming extinct. Numbers of some breeds were well below those of pandas, tigers and snow leopards. Since then no native breed has been lost but many remain at risk.

Cavemen first domesticated animals for food, clothing and companionship. Probably dogs, goats and sheep were among the first. We have no record of those times but the Soay sheep from the Outer Hebrides have been kept for at least four thousand years.

They have all the characteristics of the Asiatic Moufflon from which they came. They are small, feisty and very wild. Exmoor ponies are of ancient lineage too: they are perhaps the most ancient equine breed in Europe today. The five-toed Dorking poultry were mentioned in reports of the first Roman invasion of Britain.

Tickets on the day cost (June 4, 2012) – Adults, £11, Children over five years, £4. Family tickets, £28.