10th June 2013
Record Numbers Attend Open Farm Sunday 2013
Right across the country farmers have reported record attendance for Open Farm Sunday 2013. Feedback from farms
indicates that, in many cases, visitor numbers were up by between 10-20% on last year, leading organisers’ LEAF,
(Linking Environment And Farming) to estimate that over 200,000 people visited one of the 365 farms that opened. With
sunshine bathing most of Britain, the increase in visitor numbers was seen in farms from Cornwall to Northumberland
and Scotland to Essex. Conversations on social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, had already reached new
levels before the weekend, and on Open Farm Sunday itself, the channels were literally buzzing with fantastic feedback
from visitors about their day on a farm – as well, of course, appreciation for all the work farmers and their helpers had
put into their events.
Caroline Drummond, LEAF’s Chief Executive is very proud of what the food and farming industry has achieved once again
with Open Farm Sunday: “Since Open Farm Sunday started in 2006, , farmers have now welcomed well over one million
visitors out onto farms. Without question, the day is the single most important day in the food and farming calendar for
connecting farmers and consumers. But it couldn’t happen without all the hard work of farmers and their friends, family
and helpers . To them and to all our sponsors and industry supporters, we would like to say a huge thank you! I would
also like to thank all those involved with the pilot Open Schools events which started last week and are continuing until
14th June. These are proving to be a great hit with teachers and pupils being about to get up close to a real working
farm.”
Agriculture Minister David Heath said: “Open Farm Sunday is a fabulous opportunity for the public to show their
appreciation for British farmers and to see at first hand all that goes into producing the food we eat. It’s important for
people to understand more about how vital sustainable farming is, and how our farmers play a key role in caring for the
countryside. I’d like to congratulate all those involved for making the event so successful.”
The feedback from visitors has been 99% positive, and shows just how much visitors of all ages enjoyed the day. Here is
just a taster of some of the hundreds of tweets and comments received so far:
“Great way to show all that's good about British Farming. Impressed with the number and range of activities, and
attracted a wide scope of visitor. Well done all involved!”
“We went to our first Open Farm Sunday yesterday and it was amazing. It was so organised and well thought about,
so many things to do. We couldn’t believe it was all free.”
“We had an amazing time at Open Farm Sunday - an amazing effort with everything you could wish to see and more,
with added sunshine to make it a great day all round. Great to see other farmers locally assisting to make it special
and accessible to lots more people. Thank you, same time next year?”
Our host farmers also had a good time…….
“We had a great day for #OFS thanks with over a thousand visitors through the gate” @frogmarygreen
“Very proud to have worked with such a great group of volunteers today for @OpenFarmSunday in Tiptree thank you
all for your help!” @tiptree
“#openfarmsunday done. Thanks to all who came. Loads of good feedback and about 560 visitors not bad for our first
time.” @atmahon
“We had a great @OpenFarmSunday @JamesHuttonInst in Dundee, so lovely to meet our visitors all 1000 of them!
#ofs” @JamesHuttonInst
Once again, Open Farm Sunday has received extensive coverage in trade, regional and consumer media . Coverage in
consumer media has included Gurgle, Choice, Country Walking, The Green Parent, Great British Food, Saga, Delicious,
Bodyfit, Woman’s Weekly, People’s Friend, County Life, Yours, countryliving.co.uk and My Weekly, as well as a number
of key blogs.
Last week got underway with Open Farm Sunday featured in Saturday’s Independent ‘Recommended’ column. A story
looking at how an increased number of families are visiting farms was then placed with the Sunday Express and also
featured in a number of regional publications. Meanwhile, a story looking at how shoppers are seeking out British food,
run in conjunction with IGD, was featured in the Daily Star, on the MSN and AOL websites, as well as both regionally and
on a number of trade websites. On Thursday, Open Farm Sunday was featured as one of Martin Lewis’ ‘deals for the
week’ on ITV Daybreak and on Friday morning, it was mentioned by both Radio 4’s Farming Today and Zoe Ball on the
Radio 2 breakfast show. On Saturday, Open farm Sunday featured in the Express, Independent and i newspapers.
Of course, no Open Farm Sunday would be complete without the hundreds of pieces of regional coverage promoting
participating farms – as well as being featured as part of the Archers storyline once again on Radio 4.
The date for Open Farm Sunday 2014 is Sunday 8th June, so make sure that is in your diary now.
For more information visit: www.farmsunday.org or follow @openfarmsunday on Twitter.
-Ends-
For further information, images, or to arrange an interview contact:
David Gough / Alice Jarrett-Kerr
Open Farm Sunday Press Office
T: 01189 475956
E: openfarmsunday@ceres-pr.co.uk
Editor’s note:
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LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) www.leafuk.org is a national charity (Registered no: 1045781) that helps farmers
produce food with care for the environment, while working with their local community
The eighth annual Open Farm Sunday took place on 9 June 2013 and provided a great opportunity for the public to truly get
to know how their food is produced and how the countryside around them is cared for
The date for the next Open Farm Sunday is Sunday 8th June 2014
Visitors will be able to learn from farmers themselves how natural plant and insect species are encouraged to thrive
alongside crops, they will get a close-up look at farm animals and see how the needs of wildlife are balanced with modern
food production
LEAF organises Open Farm Sunday and supports farmers with putting on an event that is not only enjoyable, but gives
visitors a really fascinating insight into aspects of the countryside that they would not usually see or experience on an
average day out
LEAF supports both LEAF member and non-LEAF farmers by hosting a number of information events across the country with
practical advice and tips for organising successful events. LEAF also provides free promotional support materials and an
interactive online event database to register details of farmer events
Sponsors for Open Farm Sunday 2013 include Asda, Country Life butter, Frontier Agriculture, Defra, John Deere, LEAF
Marque, Marks and Spencer, National Farmers Union, Syngenta, The Co-operative and Waitrose, plus BPEX, Dairy Co,
EBLEX, HDC, HGCA, Cotswold Seeds, FarmStay UK and Farmers Weekly
An increasing number of farmers are signing up to support LEAF, to demonstrate how they are integrating modern farming
with environmental conservation
Food carrying the LEAF Marque logo shows that it has been grown by farmers who are committed to looking after the
countryside and the environment. LEAF farmers are subject to an independent LEAF Audit, designed to help them meet the
change in demands placed on operations by legislation, the marketplace, community and the industry
Keep up to date with LEAF’s activities via twitter www.twitter.com/LEAF_Farming and our regular blogs at
leafmarque.wordpress.com.