Open Farm Sunday – 13 June 2010

Friday 22 January 2010

Care about your food? We do! That's the message from farmers across the country, as they prepare to open their farm gates on Open Farm Sunday (13 June 2010). This annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a must for anyone interested in food, farming or the countryside.

A visit to a local farm on Open Farm Sunday is a great way to meet the farmers who grow your food and see how they care for the countryside. It could include a tractor and trailer ride, an opportunity to see sheep being sheared, cows being milked or even chicks hatching!  There will be plenty of farm walks and nature trails organised, which are ideal ways to enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside. Why not make a day of it and take a picnic to enjoy with family and friends, down on the farm?  For those of you who love machinery, there will be plenty of tractors and tools on show too.

Whatever you do, Open Farm Sunday is a great chance to take in some stunning scenery and enjoy the country air.  You will really get to know how your food is produced and maybe even taste some, all whilst finding out how the countryside around you is cared for.

This will be the fifth Open Farm Sunday and over 450 farms across the country, from Cheshire to Cornwall, Flintshire to Fife and Norfolk to Northumberland, are expected to open. To find out which farms in your area are taking part, visit www.farmsunday.org.  For up-to-date campaign information and to let us know about your time on the farm, follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/openfarmsunday.  

- Ends -

For further information and images, or to arrange an interview with a local farmer contact:

Naomi Barry                                                   Amanda Wadlow

Open Farm Sunday Press Office                   Open Farm Sunday Press Office

T: 01189 475956                                             T: 01189 475956

M : 07920 098498                                           E: amanda.wadlow@ceres-pr.co.uk

E: naomi.barry@ceres-pr.co.uk

Notes to editors:  

• LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) www.leafuk.org is a national charity that helps farmers produce food with care for the environment, while working with their local community
• The fifth annual Open Farm Sunday on 13 June provides a great opportunity for the public to truly get to know how their food is produced and how the countryside around them is cared for
• Visitors will be able to learn from farmers themselves how natural plant and insect species are encouraged to thrive alongside crops, they will get a close-up look at farm animals and see how the needs of wildlife are balanced with modern food production
• LEAF organises Open Farm Sunday and supports farmers with putting on an event that is not only enjoyable, but gives visitors a really fascinating insight into aspects of the countryside that they would not usually see or experience on an average day out
• LEAF supports both LEAF and non-LEAF member farmers by hosting a number of workshops across the country with practical advice and tips for organising successful events.  LEAF also provides free promotional support materials and an interactive online event database to register details of farmer events
• Food carrying the LEAF Marque logo shows that it has been grown by farmers who are committed to looking after the countryside and the environment.  LEAF farmers are subject to an independent LEAF Audit, designed to help them meet the change in demands placed on operations by legislation, the marketplace, community and the industry.
• An increasing number of farmers are signing up to support LEAF to demonstrate how they are integrating modern farming with environmental conservation
• Principle sponsors for Open Farm Sunday 2009 include: ASDA, Defra, Frontier, LEAF Marque, Morrisons, National Grid, Natural England, Waitrose, Warburtons and WRAP