Have you herd, you can have an udderly free day down on the farm this June, with Open Farm Sunday
On Sunday, the 11th of June 2023, hundreds of farms throughout the UK will be opening their doors, or perhaps I should say gates, for members of the public to come and explore real working farms and be involved in the showcasing of British farming, as Open Farm Sunday 2023 kicks off!
Teams of volunteers will be on hand to talk to you about how farming works and answer any questions you may have.
You will be able to explore the farms and take part in activities that range from machinery displays, tractor and trailer rides through to demonstrations, nature walks and much more!
The event is organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming),. which is a national charity that helps farmers improve the way they farm by encouraging them to take up Integrated Farming. LEAF aims to help to create a better public understanding of farming through their national network of Demonstration Farms, Innovation Centres, LEAF Education work and initiatives like LEAF Open Farm Sunday.
They bring farmers and consumers together to raise awareness of how farmers are working in harmony with nature to produce good food with environmental care and to promote sustainability.
Watch highlights from the 2022 event
What does it cost?
The event is free, although some farms may ask for a small donation, which is donated to charity. The events get very busy, and so many farms ask visitors to book their visit in advance.
You can see which farms are opening up locally to you by visiting the official Open Farm Sunday Website, where you can enter your postcode to find a farm you can visit and book tickets if applicable.
If you can't make it to a farm, you can watch videos that let you follow four farms and see what they get up to throughout the farming seasons.
The events are kid-friendly, so if, like my son, your kids are interested to see what happens on a farm and would like to spend time hanging out with farm animals and real farmers, get some fresh air, and of course, discover all the smells you would expect on a farm, then what better opportunity can you think of to go and explore! Maybe pack a picnic, take your wellies and go and have an adventure!
Full details can be found on the Open Farm Sunday Website.
