Michael Morpurgo, OBE, is the former Children's Laureate and best-selling author of over 130 books for children, including Private Peaceful, The Butterfly Lion, Kensuke's Kingdom and War Horse, which has been adapted into both a hugely successful West End stage production, and a film directed by Steven Spielberg. In 1976, Michael and his wife, Clare, started the charity Farms for City Children. The charity runs three farms around the country, in Gloucestershire, Pembrokeshire and North Devon. Each farm offers children and teachers from urban primary schools the chance to live and work in the countryside for a week.