Open Farm Sunday goes online with virtual farm tours

The organiser of Open Farm Sunday has created an online event for farmers to show the public how they produce the food that is helping to feed the nation during the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity Linking Environment And Farming (Leaf) will run Online Farm Sunday on 7 June – where farmers will use Facebook Live to host virtual tours and demonstrate how they produce food and enhance the environment, as well showing the technology and science involved.

From 8am to 8pm, beef, dairy and arable farmers from Aberdeenshire to Jersey will take over Leaf’s Open Farm Sunday Facebook page, where they can interact with the public and answer questions live.

See also: Open Farm Sunday postponed over coronavirus concerns

Annabel Shackleton, manager of Leaf Open Farm Sunday (LOFS), said it was an opportunity for even more farmers to get involved, following the postponement of the main nationwide event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We would love the farming community across the UK to post short film clips and images throughout the day on their own channels using the hashtag #LOFS20. Also like and share posts to show the fabulous work they are doing on their farms to keep the nation fed while managing our beautiful countryside.”

Mrs Shackleton said the event was in response to the public support for Open Farm Sunday, with people keen to keep in touch with what is happening on farms during the lockdown.

Main event

Leaf said it was hopeful that farmers would be able to open their gates to the public on Sunday 20 September.

More than 230,000 people are estimated to have ventured on to 361 farms last June for the one-day nationwide event, which aims to bring farmers and consumers closer together by showing the public what UK agriculture is really about.

It recommended that farmers who organise an event use the LOFS free ticketing service so they can manage numbers and communicate any event changes to visitors.