Farmers are being urged to open their gates for next year’s Open Farm Sunday on 11th June and 'proudly show the public all that you achieve and the breadth of goods and services you deliver.'
That’s the message to farmers from LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), as registrations for Open Farm Sunday 2017 open on 1st November.
As the sector is working to determine what a post-referendum farming industry is going to look like, farmers are keen to demonstrate the vital role they play in delivering a wide range of public goods, beyond food production.
This includes managing the countryside, its wildlife, our natural resources such as water, air and soil, and contributing to a stable climate and resilience to flooding.
Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF explains: “Open Farm Sunday provides the perfect platform for farmers to shine a light on what they deliver and why supporting British farming matters.
“Everyone can and should get involved in Open Farm Sunday, regardless of the type or size of farm and help the public discover the world of farming.”
'Farming impacts all our lives'
Annabel Shackleton, LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday Manager said farming is a sector "which impacts on all our lives, yet so many people know so little about it."
“From our research it is clear that Open Farm Sunday is helping to bridge the gap between farming and the public,” Miss Shackleton said.
“This year’s visitor feedback highlighted that one in five had never visited a farm before and nearly 90% of them learnt something new about farming and food production during their visit.
“All farmers can get involved - whether hosting a farm walk for 20 or more neighbours, or opening for hundreds of visitors, each event is equally important.
“LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday will have an increasingly important role in the industry’s public engagement activities as we face a new, challenging, yet exciting era as we prepare to leave the European Union.”
