THE slaughter of a county farmer's livestock has forced him to delve into his past and come up with plans to create an agricultural 'Aladdin's Cave'.

When foot and mouth devastated Martyn Cox's livelihood, at Lower Norton Farm, Whitbourne, near Bromyard, he had to diversify. Now, a National Trust initiative, is helping him to open a new museum of ancient farming machinery and tools.

A key element of the scheme, Farming Forward, which sets out the National Trust's long term vision for sustainable farming, is to provide education for visitors to the countryside.

So Martyn came up with the idea of combining modern diversification with his late father's collection of farming tools, equipment and machinery, which will form the exhibits in the new museum.

Through this he hopes to offer visitors a unique insight into the radical changes that have taken place in farming throughout the last 100 years.

"The National Trust and I got together and decided the machinery ought to be on display," he said. "It is a shame that it was stuck in a shed and probably deteriorating."

Little did Martyn's forefathers realise the shed crammed full of age-old farming implements such as ploughs, hand tools and a wooden sheep-dip could create a new enterprise for the Cox family.

Martyn, who is the third generation of Cox at the farm, joked: "We know our way around". His grandparents moved on to the estate 86 years ago. The farm is now getting back on its feet with more livestock and is managed by Martyn's 21-year-old son, Ben.

Now farm and countryside project co-ordinator at Brockhampton, Vicky Bennett, is hoping to get the wheels in motion by applying for planning permission to change the old stables into an agricultural museum.

They have also gone into partnership with another farm on the estate and bought a trailer suitable for visitors to ride on.

"It is hoped it will eventually provide links between Lower Brockhampton house, the proposed museum and the other farm via an access trail so visitors can a real taste of farming life," said Vicky.

Farming Forward aims to boost the UK's agricultural community by adding value to food produce, promoting sustainable land management, providing skills and training, as well as education and learning.