The Best Guide for the SG19 Area

17 June: Open Farm Sunday

Published: 14th June 2012 10:28

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Hundreds of farmers across the country, are opening their gates on Open Farm Sunday 17th June, and inviting you to come and discover the story behind our food. This annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a great day out for everyone. It's a fantastic way to find out the work farmers do, not only to produce our food, but also to look after our countryside. To find a farm taking part near you, please visit www.farmsunday.org.

There is something for the whole family, including big kids - especially dads, which makes Open Farm Sunday an ideal day out for Father's Day and most of the events are free! From amazing machinery and food, to the latest technology and wildlife there is so much to see and do! You can also be a scientist for the day and help out with the first ever National Farm Pollinator Survey*, as we try to find out more about how insects like bees, ladybirds and butterflies help with pollination. For those interested in tractors and technology, many farms will have a display of some of the incredible equipment used in modern farming to maximise productivity whilst caring for the environment. Some farms will also have vintage equipment on display, providing you with a great opportunity to see how farming has advanced over the years. Or simply enjoy an informative farm tour with a farmer, and discover first hand more about the work they do every day, so that we all have food to eat and countryside to enjoy. Each Open Farm Sunday event is unique and could include exciting things to see ranging from milking robots, sheep shearing to farm animals or local wildlife. Events may also offer activities to enjoy like tractor trailer rides, food tastings or picking your own fruit.

For Open Farm Sunday 2012, we are inviting the public to help with the first ever National Farm Pollinator Survey. Insect pollinators like bees, flies and butterflies are very important to farmers, as without these important insects the availability of some key crops such as soft fruits, oilseed rape and tomatoes could be affected. Insects like these are also vital for the countryside and their value to the UK economy has been valued at approximately £400m.

This survey will help us learn more about these important insects, so farmers can protect and conserve pollinating insects on their farms. Many farms will also be offering the Discover Pollinator activity to help everyone learn more about pollination and the insects involved. So you can start to recognise these insects which are vital to our food and our countryside.

*The Pollinator survey will be available on selected farms, if you are interested in finding the farm nearest to you taking part in The Pollinator Survey, please see www.farmsunday.org.

The majority of events take place on Sunday 17 June 2012 but this year some farms will be open on alternative dates - details of which farms are opening when are available on www.farmsunday.org

To find a farm to visit near you, visit http://www.farmsunday.org/ .

For up-to-date campaign information, like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LEAFopenfarmsunday , or follow us on Twitter - www.twitter.com/openfarmsunday.

Here are some of the more local farms that are open on Sunday:

Farm	Postcode	Region
Solitaire Farm	SG19 3NY	East of England
Click here for details: Solitaire Farm, Drove Road, Gamlingay, Sandy Bedfordshire Email: balshampigs@btinternet.com Telephone: 01767 650884 Day of event: Sun 17th June
Blacklands Farm	MK44 2PP	East of England
Click here for details: Kimbolton Road, Wilden Bedfordshire Email: morganpell@btinternet.com Telephone: 01234 771587 Website: http://www.morganpellmeats.co.uk/ Day of event: Sun 17th June
Scald End Farm	MK44 2DP	East of England
Click here for details »Mill Road, Thurleigh, Bedford Bedfordshire Email: hazel@scaldendfarm.com Telephone: 01234 772688 Website: http://www.scaldendfarm.com/ Day of event: Sun 17th June
Bottom Farm	NN9 6BP	East Midlands
Click here for details: Hargrave, Wellingborough Northampshire Email: duncan@farrington-oils.co.uk Telephone: 01933 622809 Website: http://www.farrington-oils.co.uk/ Day of event: Sun 17th June
Manor Farm	CB23 1EY	East of England
Click here for details: Harlton, Cambridge Cambridgeshire Email: paula.banks@rocketmail.com Telephone: 01223 264675 Day of event: Sun 17th June
Burwash Manor	CB23 7EY	East of England
Click here for details: New Road, Barton Cambridgeshire Email: info@burwashmanor.com Telephone: Day of event:
Newlands Farm	NN29 7LB	East Midlands
Click here for details: Harrold Road, Bozeat, Wellingborough, Northampton Northants Email: claire.james3@tesco.net Telephone: 07946 176448 Day of event: Sun 17th June
The College of West Anglia	CB24 6DB	East of England
Click here for details: Landbeach Road, Milton, Cambridge Cambridgeshire Email: lfrost@col-westanglia.ac.uk Telephone: 01223 860701 Website: http://www.cwa.ac.uk/ Day of event: Sun 17th June
College Farm	CB22 4QF	East of England
Click here for details: Grange Road, Duxford Cambridgeshire Email: liz@russellsmithfarms.co.uk Telephone: 01223 839002 Website: http://www.russellsmithfarms.co.uk/ Day of event:
Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre	PE8 6HJ	East of England
Click here for details: Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre, Thornhaugh, Peterborough Cambridgeshire Email: laura.fanthorpe@sacrewell.org.uk Telephone: 01780 782254 Website: http://www.sacrewell.org.uk/ Day of event: Sun 17th June      Free entry, but we do charge for certain activities
MHS Farms Ltd (Open Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June 2012 Only)	PE6 0SY	East of England
Click here for details: 7 Park Farm, Sand Pit Road, Thorney, Peterborough Cambridgeshire Email: ofvw@parkfarmthorney.co.uk Telephone: 01733 270298 Website: http://www.parkfarmthorney.co.uk/ Day of event: Sun 17th June
Pigeons Farm	PE6 0TD	East of England
Click here for details: Wisbech Road, Thorney, Peterborough Cambridgeshire Email: info@pigeonsfarm.co.uk Telephone: 01733 271020 Website: http://www.pigeonsfarm.co.uk/ Day of event: Sun 17th June

 

Case Study

Farm: Russell Smith Farms, Duxford

Contact: Andrew Nottage

Robert Smith and I are not only farmers but custodians of the Cambridgeshire countryside. The Smith family have been farming the land located around the imperial War Museum since 1938 and grow potatoes, cereals and onions amongst other things. We are both also members of LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), a charity which promotes environmentally responsible farming, and the organisation behind Open Farm Sunday which is held on the 17th June and allows members of the public to find out more about where their food comes from.

As LEAF farmers, we are committed to producing good food with care for the environment. Protecting and conserving the wildlife on the farm is achieved through a number of Integrated Farm Management techniques. For example, we only trim the hedges every two to three years and margins are left around fields so the wildlife can flourish. These areas are planted with wildflower mixtures to attract insects and butterflies. After harvesting some of the crops, certain fields are left over the winter to provide a winter food source for wild birds.

Up until the mid 1980s cereals were the main crop grown. We then began to expand the potato crop after discovering the land is particularly well suited to them. Our farm also specialises in the production of premium quality vegetables, including onions for a range of customers.

Much of the food grown on our farm is sold to supermarkets, including Marks and Spencer and Asda. Russell Smith Farms are LEAF Marque certified, which can be recognised through the LEAF Marque logo on packaging and displays in certain retailers. The LEAF Marque is a logo that shows the food you are buying has been produced to high environmental standards from farmers you can trust.

For a great day out and to find out more about how your food is produced and the countryside around you is cared for, visit Russell Smith Farms on the 17th June for Open Farm Sunday.

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