A VALE of Evesham young farmer is looking forward to going on his trip of a lifetime to New Zealand.

Adam Smart, aged 20, of Red House Farm, Cleeve Road, North Littleton, is heading to Ashburton on South Island, New Zealand to work with Mike and Leanne Davis on their farm.

The farm runs is 750 acres and is run as a sheep and deer farm. Adam will be taking an active part in the work associated with the 2,000 sheep and 300 deer. He also aims to get involved with local social activities for the six-and-a-half months he is away.

Adam is from a farming family and studies at the Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell. "I am very interested in sheep farming but have never worked with deer before and am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead," he said.

He added: "I have always wanted to go to New Zealand and now my dream is about to come true."

When he returns home he hopes to use all the knowledge and experience he has gained on his own farm based on sheep production.

Adam is travelling with AgriVenture whose Katie Hunt said he could look forward to the challenges of working with a host family and learning about farming in a completely different part of the world.

She explained: "It gives young people with farming experience the chance to find out what it is really like to live and work in a country, rather than passing through as a tourist. It can be quite daunting task to organise such a trip but with AgriVenture everything is arranged."

AgriVenture, run by the International Agricultural Exchange Association, offers opportunities to young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to travel and work in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and Japan.

Anyone interested in finding out more about participating or hosting can call Katie Hunt on 0800 783 2186.