By Web Admin (& Izzy M.)
Open Farm Sunday is a fantastic project which has seen hundreds of farmers across the UK opening up their farm for one Sunday each year since 2006! It is a fantastic opportunity for everyone, young and old, to discover at first hand what it means to be a farmer.
Take time to listen to the birds, soak up the scenery, experience the smells of the farmyard and really get in touch with the land that feeds us. So come and feed your senses on Open Farm Sunday.
Each event is unique with its own activities - based around the farm’s own individual story. Activities during the day may include a farm walk, nature trail, tractor and trailer rides, pond dipping, activities for children, a mini farmers market or picnics.
The pictures link to take you to different sites, so if you wan't to know about Better food produced by British farmers, you might want to click the "red tractor! picture, or watch the video below.
If you wan't to know which farms you can visit locally click either of the open farm links..
"Last year we went to 2 farms, one with goats, horses & rare breeds in Hilton, a baby Highland cow (calf) had been born in the field 30 minutes before we got there & it's proud dad was watching over mum & baby... which we were able to see really well on board the trailer ride, even the farmer didn't know it had happened he was just as surprised as we were!
We learnt what was living in the hedgerows that farmers plant & maintain, some were hundreds of years old, got to see the horses, ponies from their riding school ...& the friendly, licky, climbing goats with whose milk they make delicious ice cream from! (I tried some of that too) ..as well as ducks & other animals, it was a fun & very popular visit.
He told us that the kept a few rare breeds & that this was common amongst a lot of farmers in case there is an outbreak of a nasty disease in one area some of the animals are miles away & can be used to make sure the breeds aren't wiped out by things like "foot & mouth"
At each farm we used a "dip bath" for our wellingtons, this is disinfectant to keep germs away from the animals that we may bring in, we used it on our way out too, it was like a spongey funfair floor disinfectant filled mat you walked across to clean your footwear!
Then we made our way to Wimpole hall "Home farm" & spent the afternoon there for free as well ....as it's a special farm tour day you get to see all-sorts, speak to the farmers & visit or even feed the animals, try out a tractor, climb into the seat of a massive combine & learn more about British farms supplying food & materials which we use each & every day.
It was a good but tiring day...I slept well after all that fresh air & cannot wait to go again"
Izzy M. (cub scout 1st Ramsey group)