But this is Sheffield in 2008 - where a working horse called Big Lad was brought in to harrow fields off Manor Lane, and teach modern-day schoolchildren about the magic of the land.

Delighted youngsters helped to sow seeds and look after the majestic six-year-old Clydesdale as part of a scheme to encourage them to take more interest in the land near their schools.

Children from Emmaus Catholic School on Southend Road off Manor Lane, and from St Theresa's Catholic Primary on Prince of Wales Road, sprinkled sunflower and wildflower seeds, and had a lesson in flower-growing and bio fuel.

Educational officer Anna Jones said: "A big proportion of the children had never been on this land and they really enjoyed it - they wanted to stroke the horse for hours!

"This will get them using the land and coming back here with their parents for picnics or doing something in their own garden - it just gets them outside."

The project, on land beside the Manor Oaks 1940s-themed farmhouse near Tudor ruin Manor Lodge, is run by Green Estates which tries to engage communities in green spaces.

A total of 54 children aged eight and nine from Emmaus School took part, alongside 52 pupils aged six to nine from St Theresa's.

Green Estates contracts manager Dan Cornwell said the projects are run on housing market renewal land.

"It's an opportunity to engage children in land which is just outside their schools and which they see every day - so they can really see the results of their efforts," he said. "They found it quite unusual to see a big horse in the city."

The children designed big shapes to plant their seeds in, including a star, heart and a flower, and the seeds will take six to eight weeks to grow. Green Estate organisers will take the children back for a second trip later in the year to make bird feeders - and to marvel at the progress of their plants.

The Green Estate Company is a social enterprise created to turn the neglected open spaces of the Manor, Castle and Woodthorpe into valued spaces.

Click on the green icon above for our slideshow of Big Lad in action.

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