Open Farm Sunday 2014 … join in the celebrations

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has announced the new theme for Open Farm Sunday (8 June 2014) which will be Celebrate British Farming and Food.

Farmers celebrate Open Farm Sunday success

This theme reflects the growing interest by consumers in buying British and an increasing demand to know more about how their food is grown and produced.  The announcement comes following the annual Open Farm Sunday ‘Sharing Successes’ event held in London last week (9^th October 2013).

During the day, the LEAF team reflected on the huge success of 2013 and discussed ideas for next year’s Open Farm Sunday with retailers, food producers, farming organisations, farmers and representatives from DEFRA.

Sponsors at the event highlighted the many benefits to their businesses of supporting Open Farm Sunday, while farmers described the pride they feel in taking part and the immense satisfaction participating in Open Farm Sunday delivers.  Michael Sly from MHS Farms, who participates each year, explained how he has grown his Open Farm Sunday event from just 12 visitors in 2006 to 7,000 visitors in 2013!

Annabel Shackleton, who manages Open Farm Sunday, said:  “LEAF is extremely grateful for the support Open Farm Sunday receives from across the farming and food industries, and in particular our sponsors who are crucial to its continued success.  We believe that the new theme ‘Celebrate British Farming and Food’, is ideal not only for next year, but also as we look ahead to Open Farm Sunday’s 10^th anniversary in 2015.  As one sponsor stated this week, ‘it’s what Open Farm Sunday is all about’!”

LEAF also reported that the Open Farm School Days pilot was well received and will now be rolled out to more farms in 2014.  Nick Bragg from Frogmary Green Farm, who organized a large event on his farm for more than 20 schools, gave his recipe for a successful schools day.

Annabel Shackleton added: “Farmers will be able to register for Open Farm Sunday online from 1^st December. LEAF provides support to famers opening their gates as well as a full range of FREE resources. We’ve listened to feedback from farmers and this year we will be distributing certain resources, including posters and leaflets, from February which is earlier than ever before.”

Any organisations keen to sponsor Open Farm Sunday 2014 are asked to contact Annabel Shackleton on 024 7641 3911.

For more information visit: www.farmsunday.org or follow @openfarmsunday on Twitter.

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