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Natural England - What’s happening down on the farm?

What’s happening down on the farm?

28 May 2009

Natural England supports this year’s Open Farm Sunday and Poul Christensen, Natural England’s Acting Chair, opens his farm for this year’s event - Sunday 7 June

Natural England's green farming experts will be explaining how good farming practices support our natural heritage at 30 farms. The annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) will once again showcase the huge amount of work that farmers across the country are doing to care for the countryside.

This year, Natural England is supporting some of the farms that use Environmental Stewardship schemes to help protect and conserve wildlife and provide more opportunities for us all to get out and enjoy the natural environment.

Poul Christensen, Acting Chair of Natural England who is opening up his farm in Oxfordshire for visitors on Sunday 7 June, said: “Creating areas where wildlife can thrive, providing more bridleways and improving hedgerows are just some of the things that farmers do to help protect our wildlife and help people to get out and enjoy the countryside. Green farming schemes help to make this happen and thanks to Open Farm Sunday more people can see for themselves all the great work that’s happening across the country.”

The fourth annual Open Farm Sunday provides a great opportunity for the public to get a behind-the-scenes look at life on a farm and the nature it sustains. Hundreds of farmers are taking part by inviting the public to visit their farms where there will be nature trails, tastings and demonstrations.

Poul Christensen, continued: “Over the next three years we want to make it easier for one million more children to get outside and enjoy our natural environment. Days like this, with the chance to get up close to farm animals and go wildlife-spotting, make a visit to the countryside all the more enjoyable for children and may help to inspire a long-lasting love of the outdoors.”

The full list of Natural England supported farms opening up for visits on Open Farm Sunday is below. Visitors are advised to check the Open Farm Sunday websiteexternal link in advance as in some cases booking is necessary.

South West

  • Cherry Lodge Farm, Shrewton, Salisbury, Wilts SP3 4ET
  • Otter Farm, Church Road, Colaton Raleigh, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0LW
  • Markwell Farm, Landrake, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 5EQ
  • Moor Farm, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 4AE
  • Coombe Farm, Roundham, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8RR
  • Church Farm, Stratton on the Fosse, Radstock, Nr Bath, BA3 4QY

North East

  • Farnless Farm, Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill, Co. Durham DL17 9E
  • Woodhouse Farm, Little Ayton, Middlesborough,TS9 6HZ

East of England

  • Woodfields Farm Common Drift, Gressenhall, Dereham NR20 4EN
  • Thrales End Farm, Harpenden Herts, AL5 3N
  • Barleylands Farm, Barleylands Road, Billericay CM11 2UD

Yorkshire & Humber

  • Whirlow Hall Farm, Whirlow Lane, Sheffield S11 9QF
  • Green Farm, Hellifield, Nr Skipton, North Yorks BD23 4LA
  • Manor Farm, Kelfield, York YO19 6RG

South East

  • Kingston Hill Farm, Kingston Bagpuize, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HY
  • Hampden Bottom Farm, Rignall Road, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, HP16 9PT
  • Blackmore Estate, Blackmoor, Liss, Hampshire GU33 6BS
  • Bore Place, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge TN8 7AR – opening on Sunday 12 July from 11-5pm

North West

  • Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough, Nr Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 0BL
  • The Croft, Houghton Carlisle Cumbria CA3 0LD
  • Lower Sizergh Farm, Sizergh, Kendal LA8 8AE

East Midlands

  • Sutton Estates, Hall Farm, Stainton Le Vale, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire LN8 6HP
  • Hazledine Farms, Hall Farm, Narrow Lane, Watnall, Nottinghamshire NG16 1HU
  • Grove Farm, Stanshope, Nr Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 2AD
  • F H Sargent & Son Baldfields Farm, Ashe Lane, Etwall, Derby DE65 6HT

West Midlands

  • Yoxall Farm, Yoxall, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE13 8NT
  • Park Hill Farm, Hales, Market Drayton Shropshire TF9 2QA  
  • Ellenden Farm, Harvington, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11
  • Aston Hall Farm, White Ladies Aston, Nr Spetchley, Worcester WR7 4QJ
  • Ballingham Court Farm, Ballingham, Herefordshire, HR2 6NH

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is a national charity that helps farmers produce good quality food with care for the environment, whilst working with their local community www.leafuk.orgexternal link

Natural England
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

For further information contact
The National Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk out of hours 07970 098005.

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