Farmers’ open day for foodies
Published at 21:38, Wednesday, 23 May 2012
FARMERS in southern Scotland are opening their gates on Open Farm Sunday on June 17 and inviting you to discover the story behind our food.
This annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a great day out for everyone and a fantastic way to find out about the work farmers do producing food and looking after the countryside.
There is something for the whole family 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 be a scientist for the day and help with the first national farm pollinator survey as LEAF tries to find out more about how bees, ladybirds and butterflies help with pollination.
Insect pollinators are very important to farmers because without them availability of key crops such as soft fruits, oilseed rape and tomatoes could be affected. Insects are also vital for the countryside and their value to the UK economy has been valued at £400m.
This survey will help farmers learn more about these insects so they can protect and conserve them on their farms.
For those interested in tractors and technology many farms will display some of the incredible equipment used in modern farming to maximise productivity. Some farms will have vintage equipment demonstrating how farming has advanced over the years.
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 event is unique and includes exciting things to see, like milking robots, sheep shearing, farm animals or wildlife. Events may also offer activities to enjoy such as trailer rides, food-tastings or picking your own fruit.
To find a farm taking part near you go to www.farmsunday.org.
Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk
