A FARM that has turned its back on intensive farming methods will open to the public as an working heritage attraction this weekend.

Farmer Steve Newlove, 31, of Thorpe Hill Farm, in Thorpe Underwood, auctioned off all his modern equipment last month and bought two shire horses to pull vintage machinery.

He will also use crop rotation instead of artificial fertiliser to grow wheat, barley, oats, turnips and potatoes, and mustard.

The new attraction is a childhood dream of Steve’s after he visited a heritage farm in Scotland with his family when he was younger.

The farm will also have a maize maze, quad bike rollercoaster and outdoor education venue for schools.

Steve said he would continue to develop the attraction following the opening, adding a café, shop, education suites and an indoor activity centre, which should be completed in early 2012.

Steve said education would be at the heart of the project, which would also provide a great day out for people of all ages.

He said: “This is going to be an educational venture that reaches out to all ages, from nursery children who want to come and see the baby lambs to adults who are keen to get their hands dirty and learn traditional skills.

“Most people who live in the countryside today have moved here for lifestyle reasons and have no experience of farming, and that’s something I’d like to help change.”

Plans are also under way to create a number of training opportunities, from animal care courses and opportunities to become a farmer for a day to rural enterprise workshops and mentoring schemes.

The farm hopes to build strong links with local schools to provide outdoor learning and curriculum support as well as school visit days with a difference, and is already taking bookings for the 2011-12 academic year.

Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism body Welcome To Yorkshire, said: “This is a terrific project which is guaranteed to give visitors of all ages a taste of the countryside and of rural life. And as a sheep farmer myself, I believe this is an essential part of education.”