<h2>Hi</h2>

Fun on the farm

9 Jun 2010 09:16 AM

Natural England gets ready to celebrate Open Farm Sunday.

On Sunday 13 June 2010, more than 400 farms nationwide will open their gates as part of Open Farm Sunday.

Natural England is sponsoring this annual celebration of farming and running on-farm children’s activities at more than forty of the participating farms across England.

Poul Christensen, Natural England Chair, says: “Open Farm Sunday is a fantastic opportunity for everyone, young and old, to see the great work that farmers do to produce our food and look after our cherished countryside”.

Organized by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) Open Farm Sunday, is a must for anyone interested in food, farming or the countryside. Activities up and down the country will include farm walks, nature trails, tractor and trailer rides, pond dipping, activities for kids, farmers’ markets and picnics.

Poul Christensen concluded: “Open Farm Sunday is a celebration of farming and the countryside. It gives us all a chance to have fun, to enjoy fascinating wildlife and beautiful scenery and to appreciate the role that farming plays in providing food and maintaining a healthy natural environment.”

The full list of Natural England supported farms opening up for visits on Open Farm Sunday is below. Visitors are advised to check the Open Farm Sunday website in advance, as in some cases booking is necessary.

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South West

  • Cherry Lodge Farm and Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve, Shrewton, Salisbury, Wilts SP3 4ET

  • Middlebere Farm and Hartlands Farm, Norden, Dorset BH20

  • River Bourne Community Farm, Cow Lane, Laverstock, Salisbury SP1 2SR

  • Huntstile Organic Farm, Goathurst, Somerset

  • Myncen Farm, Nr Blandford, Dorset DT11 8DH

  • Beech Hayes Farm, Churchinford, Taunton, Somerset TA3 7DW

  • Hill House Farm, Farmington, Cheltenham GL54  3NH

  • Woodhuish Farm, Kingswear, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 0EF

North East

  • Coves House Farm, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham DL13 3BG

  • Wheelbirks Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7HY

  • Widdybank Farm, Moor House-Upper Teesdale NNR, Langdon Beck, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham DL12 0TY

East of England

  • Woodfields Farm, Common Drift, Gressenhall, Dereham NR20 4EN

  • College Farm, Grange Road, Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QF

  • Boltons Park Farm, 44 Hawkshead Road, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 1NB

  • Pilkington Farms, Offley Hoo, Hoo Lane, Offley, Hitchin SG5 3ED

  • Shotford Hall Farm, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9QT

  • Fenrose Farm, 1 Fen Bank, Isleham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 5SL

Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Stockbridge Technology Centre, Stockbridge House, Cawood, Selby YO8 3UJ

  • Beadlam Grange, Beadlam, north Yorkshire YO62 7TD

  • The Pizza Farm, Youlton Lodge, Tollerton, York YO61 1QJ

  • Carlshead Farms, Paddock House Lane, Sicklinghall, Wetherby LS22 4BL

  • Manor Farm, Cray, Hubberholme, Upper Wharfedale BD23 5JE

  • Pepper Pot Farm, Whitehilll Road, Slack Lane, Oakworth, Keighley BD22 0QH

  • West End Farm, Harpham, Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 4QZ

South East

  • Hampden Bottom Farm, Rignall Road, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire HP16 9PT

  • Monkshill Farm, Royal School for Deaf Children, Monskhill Road, Herne Hill, Whitstable, Kent ME13 9EH

  • Trinley Estate,Trinley Buildings, Finkley, Andover SP11 6AH

North West

  • The Grange, Warrington Road, Mickle Trafford, Chester CH2 4EB

  • Hanging Chadder Farm, Royton, Oldham OL2 6XR

  • The Croft Organic Farm, Houghton, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 0LD

East Midlands

  • Hall Farm, Stainton Le Vale, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire LN8 6HP

  • Baldfields Farm, Ashe Lane, Etwall, Derby DE65 6HT

  • Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop and Educational Resource, Grayingham Grange Farm, Grayingham, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 4JD

  • Lambert House Farm, Bottom Street, Allington, Grantham NG32 2DT

  • The Allerton Project,  Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Loddington House, Main Street, Loddington, Leicester LE7 9XE

  • Massingberd Arms Farm, Gunby, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE24 5EX

West Midlands

  • H Weston & Sons Ltd, Much Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2NQ

  • Longlands, Longlands, Whitbourne, Worcester WR6 5SG

  • Park Hill Farm, Hales, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 2QA

  • Ellenden Farm, Harvington, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11

  • Aston Hall Farm, White Ladies Aston, near Spetchley, Worcester WR7 4QJ

Notes to Editors:

About Natural England

Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

  • We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.

  • We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.

  • We run Environmental Stewardship and other green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.

  • We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.

  • We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.

About One Million Children Outdoors

Natural England has a three year programme to make it easier for one million more children to get outside and enjoy our natural environment.

About LEAF

LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is a national charity that helps farmers produce good quality food with care for the environment, whilst working with their local community. An increasing number of farmers are signing up to the LEAF scheme which integrates modern farming know-how with conservation. Food carrying the LEAF marque logo indicates that it has been grown by farmers who are committed to looking after the countryside and the environment.

For further information about LEAF visit: www.leafuk.org

For further information contact:
The National Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk out of hours 07970 098005. 

For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk