PRINCE Charles will learn first hand how farming in the Ribble Valley will develop in the future when he visits the area in the New Year.

Rural businesses that have benefited from grants by the Lancashire Rural Futures Partnership will showcase their work to the Prince of Wales when he visits the area in January.

Sheep milking, organic cheese-making, yoghurt making, joinery and livestock rearing will be demonstrated by local businesses who have received Rural Futures assistance.

The Prince will be visiting Chipping Village Hall on Thursday, January 9, to chat with local farmers involved in the partnership.

Lancashire Rural Futures is a partnership organisation set up to carry forward the work of the Bowland Initiative, a successful project to regenerate the Forest of Bowland area by Lancashire County Council.

It was recognised as an exemplary example of good practice in a Rural White Paper and won Lancashire County Council the 2001 Royal Town Planning Institute Award for business.

His Royal Highness will be escorted on the day by Peter Stott, a Chipping farmer, who has been participating in the work of Rural Futures from the outset and represents the National Farmers' Union.

He said: "It's going to be something we are all looking forward to greatly as the Prince of Wales is greatly involved with rural issues. He is coming basically because the Rural Futures project has been such a success that it is going to be used as a blueprint for agriculture for years to come."

Lancashire Rural Futures project manager, John Welbank, will also be escorting Prince Charles on the day. He said: "We are delighted by the forthcoming visit of the Prince of Wales. It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the active participation of the farming community in Lancashire Rural Futures."