Open Farm Sunday offers support for farmers wanting to open their farms to public
25th January 2025
Linking Environment And Farming is encouraging farmers to take part in Open Farm Sunday 2025 by offering their best-ever support package. The aim of the initiative is to connect more farmers with consumers and bridge the knowledge gap by educating communities about farming with nature.
The event organisers have scheduled two free in-person workshops in March, a series of nine Zoom webinars running from late January to May, alongside a handbook with everything hosts could need to know, offering guidance and ideas to both novice and seasoned host farmers.
The five-hour workshops will be held in Yorkshire and Berkshire, providing direct, hands-on learning and shared experiences from past hosts. The webinars will address a broad range of topics for running successful events, including logistics, publicity, visitor engagement, and safety protocols.
Open Farm Sunday manager, Annabel Shackleton, believes it has never been more important to connect the public with farming, and she encourages farmers to get involved and open their gates on 8th June 2025.
She said: “This year, we’re firmly focussed on really building on our farmer support, equipping more farmers with the right guidance and tools to host an OFS event in June.
“By connecting with consumers and inspiring the public to appreciate the sustainable farming practices that nurture nature, we can show how we produce food they can trust, while protecting the environment.”
READ MORE: Farmers encouraged to invite public to their farms during Open Farm Sunday events
Cultivating positive connections
Mrs Shackleton added that Open Farm Sunday provides a powerful platform to connect, engage and enlighten the public about the amazing work farmers do, whether that is on a small family farm or on a large-scale farm enterprise.
The event’s 2024 impact report indicates that 96% of visitors left with a greater appreciation of the work farmers do, while 91% of visitors were motivated to buy more British produce. This research highlights the benefit of engaging with the public to build greater consumer confidence and understanding.
“We’re here to help make farmers’ OFS journey as straightforward as possible and support even more farms to get involved.
“Making farming relatable and relevant to people depends on having access to farms to see for themselves what’s involved. Open Farm Sunday can really help bring that to life and cultivate positive connections,” Mrs Shackleton concluded.
For additional information about Open Farm Sunday and details on how to become a host or to book your place at the upcoming workshops and webinars, please click here.
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