Farmers say welcome on Open Farm Sunday

NFU members across the North West are throwing open their farm gates as they join this year’s Open Farm Sunday on 7 June 2009.

29 farms in this region have officially signed up to host an on-farm event for the LEAF (Linking the Environment and Farming) organised Open Farm Sunday, which is now in its fourth year. A list of North West farms which are participating can be found at the bottom of this press release.

NFU’s regional press officer, Carl Hudspith says: "There’s an open invitation from a farm near you to join in this celebration of food, farming and the countryside on 7 June. It is great to see Open Farm Sunday now establishing itself as an annual event which gets wide support from across the farming industry. It proves the present generation of farmers have a ’can-do’ attitude. They are saying welcome to my farm, I’m proud of what I do.

"It is a great opportunity for farmers to demonstrate how we manage the countryside to produce, wholesome, affordable, food and to create a beautiful, bio-diverse environment.

"The NFU acknowledges the great work LEAF has done to bring this event to life and we are more than happy to add our shoulder to the wheel. It is good to see so many NFU members getting involved. Farmers aren’t the most natural show-offs but we have a great story to tell and a great setting to tell it in.

"Let’s hope Open Farm Sunday 2009 builds on and exceeds the success of previous years and continues to thrive in the future."