THE Countess of Wessex arrived in Wiltshire by helicopter on Thursday for a whistle stop tour of the county.

Lady Wessex opened the new £400,000 site of Larkrise Community Farm in West Ashton Road, Trowbridge and then went on to visit the Cygnets Youth Group and Wylye Valley School in Codford. The farm, which has recently moved site, provides hands on practical experience in caring for animals for young people and adults, many with special needs.

Lady Wessex, who was wearing a black skirt, grey tweed jacked and black and silver high-heeled shoes, was shown around the farm by Wendy Self, farm manager. Mrs Self, said: "It means a lot that the Countess of Wessex is here to officially open our new site. We have waited a long time to have proper facilities like this with access for the disabled, so it's really great."

Lady Wessex met all the animals and some young volunteers. Chairman of the trustees, Peter Morris, explained the scheme to her: "We find that animals are a very good way for young people to gain confidence in themselves."

Lady Wessex, whose husband Prince Edward, was presenting medals at the Commonwealth Games, particularly liked meeting Molly, an angora goat, and told everyone to stroke her as she was so soft. She also saw young calves, Monty, Alfie and Smudge, being bottle fed by volunteers James Rees, 14, and Josh Gatty, 16.

James said: "I like coming to the farm because it keeps me out of trouble and makes me feel responsible for something.

"The Countess was really nice and asked me what animals I liked to work with and how many times a week I come here.

"I didn't think she was wearing very sensible footwear though," he said, of her high-heeled shoes. Lady Wessex unveiled a commemorative plaque and was presented a posy of yellow roses and purple freesias by twins Chloe and Victoria Gale, seven, both members of the Saturday Club at the farm.

She praised the scheme for teaching children without them realising it', and improving young people's self-confidence. Lady Wessex then returned to her helicopter to be whisked to Codford to present the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service to the Cygnets Youth Group.

After lunch in Codford Village Hall, she heard from former chairman of Cygnets and of the governors of Wylye Valley School, Brigadier Simon Firth, about the scheme. Brigadier Firth explained the village had been experiencing rising vandalism and the youth group and sports and chill-out area were created to give teenagers something to do in the village.

Lady Wessex presented the award, unveiled a commemorative plaque and was given flowers by Katie Elliot, 18, and Lisa Stokes, 16, two of the original members of Cygnets.

She was greeted by children waving flags and in home made crowns when she arrived at Wylye Valley School.

The school was created by the federation of Codford Primary School (90 children) and Steeple Langford Primary School (22 children) in April 2005, under head teacher Debi Downing, and is celebrating its first anniversary. Lady Wessex took a tour of the school and heard a reading of Nicholas Allan's The Queen's Knickers' read by Sue Bray to a group of children.

Each classroom in the school has interactive whiteboards, and the children created a presentation for Lady Wessex reading: Sophie is coming in her helicopter', accompanied by a moving image of Lady Wessex in a helicopter.

The Countess heard a rendition of the poem The King's Breakfast, which she said was one of her favourites when she was at school herself. Unveiling a commemorative plaque, the Countess congratulated the school on its convergence, and "for managing to keep it the happy place that it is".

She was also presented with a papier-mache sculpture of herself, which the children had made for her, along with models of all other members of the Royal Family.

She asked the children if it looked anything like her, and received a resounding "Yes".

"I'll take that as a compliment I think," she replied. Mark Shuldham, chairman of the governors of the school, said: "This has been a wonderful opportunity, and a great treat for us, which we have enjoyed enormously.

"The children will remember this for a long time." Earlier in the day, the Countess officially opened the new headquarters of Wiltshire St John Ambulance in Devizes in her capacity as grand president of The Priory of St John Ambulance.