YOUNG Caleb Hilder was among the children who met Princess the pony at ‘Farmyard Friends’ in Newport’s Tredegar House yesterday.

Caleb was one of many youngsters to enjoy a day at the historic 17th century house which hosted a Home Farm Fete as part of its Bank Holiday activities.

Staff helped bring history to life with brand new tours through the home farm area and helped visitors to discover the stories behind the once bustling heart of the Tredegar House Estate.

Visitors were encouraged to explore inside The Mill, open especially for the event, and discover the hidden secretes kept within, as well as meet the animals and see old farming equipment.

They also took part in traditional summer games and activities in the grounds of the building, which dates back to the early 1500s.

Among the visitors to The Mill were twins Lewys and Aron Evans, whilst Caleb, Leah and hannah Hilder admired a rabbit in the farmyard area and Darcey Ennis-Howel looked on as a pony was being fed.

The event is the latest summer event to be held at Tredegar House, which is now managed by the National Trust on a 50-year lease.

Since the handover in March of last year, the charity has been carrying out around £4.5 million worth of repairs and improvements to enhance visitors’ experiences. This has included improvements to the children’s play ground, the re-opening of the orchard gardens, and restoration the historic walled gardens to their former glory.

The council still owns the building and Newport residents and visitors have free access to the park, children’s play area and the council-run library.