LEAF calls on farmers to ‘Share Your Story’
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has announced an exciting new campaign to inspire and encourage more farmers to open their gates for next year’s Open Farm Sunday.
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has announced an exciting new campaign to inspire and encourage more farmers to open their gates for next year’s Open Farm Sunday on the 5th June 2016. ‘Share Your Story’ will call on all farmers to get involved to share their story – from how crops are grown, animals cared for, to how they manage our countryside.
Building on the success of the past decade, organisers LEAF are broadening the reach of Open Farm Sunday to encompass all types of British farming. The theme for Open Farm Sunday 2016 will be ‘Discover the World of Farming’ – to reflect the huge diversity within our industry and enable a greater variety of farmers to take part. Last year’s Open Farm Sunday saw nearly 400 farms welcome over a quarter of a million visitors and LEAF is aiming to beat this record in 2016.
Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday Manager said: “Open Farm Sunday is the industry’s annual open day showcasing all types of farming. Historically, it has focused on the story of food production, but British farmers are responsible for so much more. Whether they are producing nutritious food, fuel, or crops for medicine, clothing and manufacturing, we want to reach out to all farmers to share their story on Open Farm Sunday. The day is a great opportunity to show the public why farming is so important and to help build trust and understanding in agriculture. Whether farmers choose to hold a simple farm walk or a much bigger event, Open Farm Sunday is their chance to explain to the public what farming is all about and why it matters. We have lots of exciting new activities for Open Farm Sunday 2016 and are looking forward to even more farmers taking part next year!”
To get involved in Open Farm Sunday 2016, farmers are asked to register their event at www.farmsunday.org from the 1st December 2015. All host farmers receive a huge range of fabulous free resources and support from the team of Regional Co-ordinators around the country.
LEAF will also be encouraging farmers to use the power of social media to fanfare their involvement in Open Farm Sunday. Mini case studies and videos are also being produced to support the recruitment campaign.
New for Open Farm Sunday 2016 will be a refreshed website that will be launched in January. LEAF is also working with Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC)*, to create some engaging new resources for farmers to help inspire their visitors about the wonderful science and technology behind farming.
Open Farm Sunday continues to receive tremendous support from the food and farming industry. Sponsors who have already signed up for 2016 include: Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, ASDA, BASF, AHDB, LEAF Marque and John Deere. There are still sponsorship opportunities available for next year’s campaign and anyone interested should contact Annabel Shackleton at LEAF.
* Applications for funding are currently being received. For more information please visit: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/2015/leaf-open-farm-sunday-call-science-activity-resources/
