South West farms gear up to welcome visitors for Open Farm Sunday on June 8th

Farms across the South West are preparing to throw open their gates to the public this weekend as part of Open Farm Sunday, a nationwide celebration of British agriculture taking place on Sunday, 8^th June.

Managed by Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF), Open Farm Sunday has become the UK’s premier farming open day since its inception in 2006. Over the past 18 years, the initiative has seen more than 2,000 farmers across the country welcome a combined 3.25 million visitors, offering a behind-the-scenes look at modern food production, animal husbandry, and countryside stewardship.

This year, dozens of farms across Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, and Dorset will participate, providing hands-on experiences, demonstrations, and tours designed to help reconnect the public with the land, and raise awareness about how food is grown and produced.

A South West showcase of rural life

In Somerset, The Slow Farming Company in Castle Cary is preparing for one of the region’s largest events, expecting 800 to 1,000 visitors. Attendees will enjoy machinery and animal displays, tractor and trailer tours, and live music from Buck Wild Country.

Elsewhere in Somerset, Home Farm near Chard will highlight the practice and principles of organic dairy farming. The event will feature live milking and foot-trimming demonstrations, tractor rides, and local produce stalls.

“Here at Home Farm, we’re proud to be hosting this year’s event on behalf of our local farm cluster, with farms in the group taking turns each year to open up and share a different type of farming with the local community, from dairy to arable to mixed livestock," said Sophie Gregory of Home Farm.

"This year, it’s our turn to highlight the role of organic dairy farming in a changing food system. We’re expecting over 1,000 visitors on the day, from curious families to food lovers, local school groups, and everyone in between. Our goal is simple: to reconnect people with farming, with food, and with the land that supports it all.”

In Devon, North Waterhayne Farm in Yarcombe will welcome visitors to meet the cows, watch milking, and see sheep shearing demonstrations. Other Devon farms opening their doors include:

• Blackberry Farm, Milton Damerel, Holsworthy (10am–5pm)

• Daynes Farm, Harberton, Totnes (10am–4pm)

• Dennings Down Farm, Axminster (11am–4pm)

• East Soar Farm, Malborough, Kingsbridge (2pm–5pm)

• Enfield Farm, Crediton (12pm–4pm)

• Scobbiscombe Farm, Kingston, Kingsbridge (11am–2pm)

• Springwater Farm, Rewe (11am–3pm)

• West Middlewick Farm, Tiverton (10am–3pm)

• Woodrow Barton, Brampford Speke, Exeter (from 10:30am)

Events are also planned across Cornwall and Dorset, with several farms hosting special activities and local food tastings. While most events take place on June 8th, some farms may be opening on alternative dates so check listings for details.

Education Through Experience

Open Farm Sunday aims to close the gap between food producers and consumers by offering transparent, fun, and educational experiences. From learning how a dairy operates to understanding the importance of soil health, visitors of all ages can discover the hard work that goes into feeding the nation.

For more information and to book visits to participating farms, visit the Open Farm Sunday website - https://farmsunday.org/