This Sunday 17 June is Open Farm Sunday where visitors can go and discover more about food and farming. This annual national event is organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) and hundreds of farms across the country are taking part. It’s a great day out for the family – take a picnic – and it provides an opportunity to find out more about how farmers produce our food, and care for the countryside too.

Just checking their website I found the nearest interesting farm to me (I wasn’t thinking of going to a City Farm, but there are some listed, and they may be your best bet, and nearest option). I found, for example:

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

Email: pchristian@rvc.ac.uk, Telephone: 01707 666467, Website: www.rvc.ac.uk/farm

Highlights:
 Meet the animals
 Static machinery display
 Hosted farm tour
 Food is available

Farm Features: Dairy, Sheep, Poultry, Llamas / Alpaca

Event Description: 10am-4pm Education mixed with fun. Story of milk and facts about animals and how they work. Guided tours leaving every 10 minutes. Refreshments. Please bring appropriate footwear for a farm. Bring a picnic if you wish and sit in one of our fields. Modern farm equipment, Bee Keeping, Educational and interesting displays from various college departments. Booking not necessary.

So this is just an example, and it’s free! Get the picnic sorted (see my previous columns for portable food ideas) and get going!