Local farmers and landowners planning to host a farm visit during the Year of Food and Farming have received a helping hand from an unexpected quarter - CLA Insurance Services.
The company, which operates insurance services for the CLA, the rural economy experts, is lending its support to the Year of Food and Farming by offering free public liability cover to policy-holders who organise a public event on their farm.
CLA Rural Development Adviser for the East Midlands, Julie Robinson, said: "The Year of Food and Farming aims to get children on to farms so they can understand the countryside and how food is produced.
"One of the problems to this ambition is the perceived risk involved and the need for extended public liability insurance – so this decision by our insurers is welcome news indeed."
CLA Insurance Services is an independent broker and arranges farm insurance for members with a number of leading insurers. Each of these has agreed to extend the public liability section of cover for participating policyholders at no extra cost.
A spokesman said the move was a demonstration of the company's commitment to the farming community.
"We hope this will ease the way for farmers who want to organise an open farm event but are concerned about the potential increased insurance risk associated with members of the public visiting a working farm," he said.
Anyone who would like to benefit from the free offer should call Adrian Lockyer on 01234 408601