Discover life on our farms on Open Farm Sunday
15 June 2012
Hundreds of farmers across the UK are opening up their farms on Sunday 17 June. It is a fantastic opportunity for everyone, young and old, to discover at first hand what it means to be a farmer.
Natural England is supporting LEAF’s (Linking Environment And Farming) Open Farm and we’re hoping that lots of people will go along to one of this year’s local events and help make the seventh Open Farm Sunday a huge success.
Under the banner of ‘Discover life on our farms’, this year’s events will have an environmental theme including new and inspiring activities for visitors to explore more about nature’s role in farming. It’s a great opportunity to take time to listen to the birds, soak up the scenery, experience the sounds and smells of the farmyard, meet the farmer and discover more about the land that feeds us and the wildlife that lives there.
The environmental theme is reflected in this year’s ‘Discover Pollinators’ project, which asks visitors to keep an eye out for five kinds of pollinating insects as they walk around the farm and take part in a new national survey. With the global value of insect pollination estimated in the billions of pounds, pollinating insects are very important to farmers and research that can aid or improve pollination will be of benefit to the whole industry.
Open Farm Sunday is organised by LEAF, who support farmers by putting on events that are not only enjoyable, but give visitors an insight into aspects of farming that they would not normally see on a typical day out in the countryside. The day provides a great opportunity to get to know how food is produced and how the countryside is cared for.
Each event will be a unique experience with activities based around the farm’s own individual story. The sort of activities you can expect to find at one of the events might include a farm walk, a nature trail, tractor and trailer rides, pond dipping, activities for children, a mini farmers’ market or picnics...and much more.
Visit the Open Farm Sunday web site - www.farmsunday.org
- to find a farm near you which is taking part. Follow @OpenFarmSunday on Twitter for all the latest news.
Open Farm Sunday event
Dorset Heaths NNR: 17 June 2012 – 11.00am-4.00pm
Natural England is teaming up with The National Trust, RSPB and Dorset AONB as well as our two host farmers for an event on Hartland Moor. There will be talks by the farmers and displays of farm machinery and equipment. You can see the grazing cattle, there’ll be tractor-trailer rides, children’s activities and more – plus you can enjoy fabulous views across Arne and Poole Harbour. Regular tractor-trailer rides to and from each farm on the day and new for this year tractor-trailer there will be rides to-and-from RSPB Arne reserve.
This is a free event – although donations to LEAF, the charity that supports Open Farm Sunday, are welcome. Last tractor-trailer ride at 3:00 pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Location: Middlebere Farm and Hartlands Farm. Parking at Hartlands Farm, Norden, Dorset BH20 5DX; signposted from the Norden Park and Ride roundabout on the A35. (Disabled parking available please call 07500 127 401 to arrange)
Sorry, but no dogs due to livestock
More information on the National Nature Reserve can be found on the Dorset Heaths NNR page.
More information on other farm events taking place can be found on our farm events page.
