Open Farm Sunday 2018: The numbers and photos

More than 270,000 people flocked to see what makes British agriculture world-class, in what was a spectacular coming together of farmers and the public at large for Open Farm Sunday (OFS).

As many parts of the British Isles basked in sublime sunshine, more than 350 farms welcomed visitors with a range of informative tours, exciting activities and scrumptious produce to taste and take home.

Now in its 13th year, the day saw all types of producers get involved, from large arable estates in East Anglia to mixed units in deepest Wales, as well as city farm parks, hop gardens and vineyards nationwide.

See also: Open Farm Sunday – why you should get involved

The nation-wide celebration of agriculture provides farmers with the ideal opportunity to show the public what makes British farming world-class and helps improve consumers’ understand of where their food comes from and how it is produced. 

Run by Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf), this is of the biggest events in the farming calendar and is the industry’s annual open day.

Leaf chief executive Caroline Drummond said: “OFS continues to go from strength to strength and yet again we have seen how by working together, the industry can really make a vital difference enabling the public to engage with farming.”

While numbers were are still being finalised, it’s thought OFS enjoyed a similar level of attendance and number of host farms compared with the past two years.

Here we share a selection of photos from farm open days across the the UK.

Visitors at Hill House Farm near Dorking in Surrey meet some of the Gloucester Old Spot pigs.

Piglets were a big hit. More than 700 people came along to the Hill House Farm day.

Tractor rides are always popular. More than 1,000 people turned up to the Worth Farms event at Holbeach Hurn in Lincolnshire © Simon Day

William Beamish spent all day telling visitors about orphan lambs at the Holkham Estate in Norfolk © James Beamish

Children gather round to hear Harry Davies talk about sheep shearing at Hopes Ash Farm in Herefordshire

There was plenty of big kit on show at Hopes Ash Farm in Herefordshire – more than 1,000 attended.

Ice creams all round. The team at Luton Hoo Estate on the Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire border, complete with fetching Farmers Weekly hats © Louise Impey

This combine harvester was a highlight of James Harris’ day at Down Barn Farm in Dorset © Nick Harris

Girls get stick in with rolling wool at the shearing demonstration at Brockhill Farm in Hythe, Kent. They had 1,500 people visit © Donna Ashlee

Tessa and Carl Pickworth with neighbour Clive Mander at their farm in North Warwickshire © Heather Ross