Open day will give public a taste of rural life

More than 20 Scottish farmers will open their gates to the public on Sunday.

Open Farm Sunday is an annual initiative by Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf) to welcome members of the public to farms across the UK.

The initiative’s Scottish coordinator, Rebecca Dawes, is encouraging farmers and crofters to go to an event in the hope they will be inspired to host one of their own next year.

She said: “Whether you go along as a visitor, or volunteer to help on the day, it is a great way to see how it works and ask some key questions and see first hand why 91% of visitors were more appreciative of the work farmers do following a Leaf Open Farm Sunday experience.

“Last year, 59% of the visitors were attending a Leaf Open Farm Sunday event for the first time and one in five had never visited a farm before.

“With a national call for farmers to engage more with the general public, you don’t have to do it on your own – let Leaf support you.”

Farms hosting events on Sunday include: Dalmore, Station Road, Barry, near Carnoustie; Hilton of Aldie Farm, Aldie Road, near Crook of Devon, Kinross; and the James Hutton Institute’s research farm at Glensaugh, near Laurencekirk.

Full details of all farms taking part in Open Farm Sunday are available at www.farmsunday.org.