AS THIS year’s Open Farm Sunday draws clsoer, organiser LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is reminding farmers in the East of England to get involved - with the one millionth visitor under the scheme expected to be welcomed on June 17.
Online registration for Open Farm Sunday is now open at www.farmsunday.org and nearly 200 farms nationwide have already signed up.
LEAF research shows that 80% of farmers who took part last year reported real business benefits including: increased sales; better community relations; raised local profile; building staff morale, and gaining new contacts.
Caroline Drummond, LEAF chief executive, said: “We’re delighted with the response so far and the fact that around 30% of registrants are farmers opening for the first time.
“Since 2006 over three-quarters of a million people have visited a farm on Open Farm Sunday – and this year we hope to welcome the millionth visitor.
“So many of our famers are passionate about the work they do and enjoy helping the public understand British food production and modern farming methods
“This isn’t possible every day so Open Farm Sunday provide a fantastic opportunity for communities to come together.
“We’ve so much planned this year, including new sponsors, resources and workshops, alongside the first national farm pollinator survey, that we want to encourage as many farmers as possible, including those in the East of England to get involved. ”
Farms of every size and type can open – it’s up to the farmer to decide how big or small the event is. To help prepare for Open Farm Sunday LEAF have organised a series of workshops taking place across the country, run by Open Farm Sunday’s team of regional co-ordinators. Topics cover ideas for visitor activities, how to get your message across to the public, through to health and safety.
In the East of England this workshop takes place at Hainey Farm, Barway, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5TZ, on Thursday, May 3. For full details and to book a place at a workshop visit http://www.farmsunday.org/ofs12/open/workshops.eb .
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