Join us for top tips and support!

Whether you are host­ing your first Open Farm Sun­day event or an expe­ri­enced host look­ing for new ideas, we have a fab­u­lous pro­gramme of Zoom webi­na­rs to sup­port you along your OFS jour­ney and to con­nect you with like-mind­ed host farm­ers and indus­try pro­fes­sion­als to bring inspi­ra­tion to your event. All our Zoom webinars fea­ture farm­ers shar­ing their OFS expe­ri­ence and sto­ries. All webinars are recorded and uploaded here soon after the event – see below and register to join us.

Online Zoom webinars:

Each Zoom webinar will be 30 minutes of presentations and discussion, followed by 15 minutes Q&A to get your questions answered.

• All about Open Farm Sunday 2025
  Listen to arable and livestock farmer, Andy Bason, and fruit grower, Laura Bailey, talk about their Open Farm Sunday experience - both have hosted six OFS events.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 29th Jan.)

• Discover OFS - hosting your first OFS event!
  Find out how first time hosts, dairy farmer Lorna Burdge, and livestock farmer, Kate Bigwood, organised their Open Farm Sunday events – an OFS ‘lite’ option and a ‘full’ open day.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 11th Feb.)
  
  
• Ticketing events and how to use TryBooking
  A look at the FREE ticketing system, TryBooking with Managing Director, Joan Lind, and find out how it can benefit you, your Open Farm Sunday event and other events you might run throughout the year.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 27th Feb.)

• Publicity and how to boost visitor numbers
  Thomas Edwards, Severndale Farm, shared how his event has grown from 200 visitors to over 2000 at his seventh Open Farm Sunday in June 2024. Hannah Lloyd from Pinstone PR agency gave some top tips on where to start with promoting your event, different channels to use and how and why to use social media to boost visitor numbers. Annabel Shackleton gave an overview of the free promotional resources available to all registered host farmers.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 11th March)

• Planning and logistics
  Zoe Fletcher from Buckminster Farm Ltd shared how she planned her first Open Farm Sunday event last year, focusing on health and safety and implementing a one-way system. George Streatfield, Marshwood Vale Cluster Group, shared how you can't do Open Farm Sunday alone and how he uses local communities and other organisations to help put on his event. Annabel Shackleton gave an overview of key steps to planning an Open Farm Sunday event.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 02nd April)

• Discover OFS - hosting your first OFS event!
  An intro­duc­tion to Open Farm Sun­day. Find out how two of our OFS host farmers run their events – arable farmer, Archie Graham, from Lodge Farm in Essex who has hosted two OFS events; and Eden Hill, Deep Clough Farm, Lancashire who hosted her first OFS event last year.
  What the webinar HERE (recorded 15th April)

• Activity ideas and sharing your farming story
  Get some great ideas on how you can share your farming story and engage visitors during your Open Farm Sunday event. Paul Wortley, from O.W. Wortley & Sons Ltd. in Norfolk talks about the range of activities at his OFS events, and OFS Manager, Annabel Shackleton shares a wider selection of activity ideas.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 29th April)

• Health and safety considerations for your event
  Watch this recording to hear LEAF Education Specialist and CEVAS trainer, Jo Hatton, give an overview of key considerations on keeping your farm safe on Open Farm Sunday, and hear all about the Open Farm Sunday event at Kypie Farm in Northumberland, with OFS host, Anne Mair-Chapman, who last year welcomed 275 people to their 4th OFS event.
  Watch the webinar HERE (recorded 7th May)

• **NEXT LIVE ZOOM WEBINAR**Last minute questions and support
  Join us for this lunchtime meet­ing to consider health and safety aspects of your event, including handwashing top tips and doing an event risk assessment.
  • Thursday 29th May @ 2pm - register here.
    

Can't wait? If want to talk through your Open Farm Sunday event today, get in touch: OpenFarmSunday@leaf.eco Tel: 02476413911 - more contact details are here.

In-person Host Farmer Meetings

A huge thank you to everyone involved in our Host Farmer In-person Meetings this year in Yorkshire and Berkshire. Two fabulous events full of OFS stories, top tips and support. Thanks to everyone who attended, asked searching questions and shared your experiences.

A special thank you to all our speakers – you were all just brilliant!

York­shire — Stock­bridge Tech­nol­o­gy Cen­tre, Sel­by
20th March 2025

Speakers:

• Tom and Zoe Peach, Rock House Farm.
• Ellie McKee, Hermione Pocock and Peter Gray, Hazel Brow Farm and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
• Helen Rhodes , New Hall Farm.
• Sam Wyman, LEAF Education Specialists
• Carl Edwards, Director Education and Public Engagement,
• Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday Manager

Berkshire - Yattendon Estate, Yattendon RG18 0UE
26th March 2025

Speakers:

• Nick Down, Yattendon Estate.
• Thomas Edwards, Managing Director at Severndale Farm.
• Olly Pemberton, Waddesdon Estate.
• Jessica Goodwin, Costow Farm Produce.
• Jo Hatton, LEAF Education Specialist.
• Carl Edwards, Education and Public Engagement Director.
• Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday Manager.

Share your support!

Encourage your farming contacts, friends and networks to get involved and join in the OFS conversations on social media:

• Twitter: @openfarmsunday #OFS25
• Facebook: @LEAFopenfarmsunday
• Instagram: @openfarmsunday

Top tips from our experienced hosts:

Rebecca Dawes - Scotland

“Never be afraid to ask for help, it is such a rewarding day for everyone involved. Your vet, local feed merchant, machinery dealer, agronomist or farm advisor could give a small talk about what they do and maybe bring a few props like animal feed or wheat seed. A “Farmer Question Time” always goes down well at our event, where local farmers each volunteer to do a 15-minute slot to answer questions.”

Anne Mair-Chapman - OFS Ambassador, North East

“Make your event fun, friendly and forget the farming jargon! After the year we've all had, your event needs to feel like a bit of light relief in the fresh air. An informal introduction as people arrive is sometimes all it takes to get the questions going - remember your audience and think of other ways to describe the work you do, farming terms are not always self-explanatory!"

Rona Amiss - OFS Ambassador, South West

"Get lots of help from neighbours, friends and anyone else you can think of! It makes it much more fun and everyone enjoys themselves."

Helen Chappell - North West

"This is the year to host! The public are wanting to connect with farms and the environment - not just to learn about the farming life but also for the health and wellbeing benefits. The support and guidance is easily accessible and the ambassadors are here to help. The general public are just as apprehensive as the farming community, but they too are determined to embrace the new normal, Covid safe way of doing things."

Andy Guy - OFS Ambassador, Midlands

"Plan ahead.
The most successful events are those where the hosts have planned for every eventuality. Think about car parking, helpers and volunteers, health and safety, activities for kids and families, promotion and what you can do if it rains. If its all sorted before the big day you will have a stress-free event.

On the day.
Brief your helpers in advance so everyone knows what they are doing and what your visitors can see and do. Once the first visitors start to arrive all you need to do is activate your plan and enjoy the day! If you’ve planned well and have contingencies for things like weather it should all go smoothly.

After the event.
Thank your helpers, tidy up and crack open a beer/cup of tea and relax. Share memories of the day with your helpers, update your Facebook page with some photos and start thinking about the next one!"

If you would like to talk through your Open Farm Sunday event ideas now, get in touch with the Open Farm Sunday team: OpenFarmSunday@leaf.eco or call 02476413911.