Chance for ‘virtual’ look behind scenes at farms

TO MARK what would have been the annual Open Farm Sunday, farms, including Sheffield’s Our Cow Molly, are opening their gates virtually.

The nationwide event, which attracts around 1.5m visitors has been postponed due to the coronavirus restrictions but organisers Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) did not want the original date – this Sunday – to pass unmarked.

So between 8am and 8pm on LEAF’s Facebook page as well as Twitter feed, there is a full schedule of farms from arable to livestock, soft fruit and dairy which people can visit from the comfort of their own home.

Eddie Andrews, from dairy farm and ice-cream parlour, Our

Cow Molly is scheduled to be online at 12pm.

Mr Andrews said they usually have around 2,000 people visit the farm which is on the outskirts of Sheffield, during Open Farm Sunday. “It is loads of work but everyone loves doing it,” he said.

“It is a whole day dedicated to talking to people about what we do and the only day when we show people behind the scenes of the milking parlour and the ice-cream making.”

Mr Andrews said he thought it was a great idea to take it online to mark the day and he is really looking forward to being involved.

He also plans to take part in Open Farm Sunday on its new date of September 20.

Manager of LEAF Open Farm Sunday, Annabel Shackleton, said: “It is sad that the on-farm events cannot run as usual, but this will be a great opportunity for even more farmers to get involved and families will to get an insight into a whole range of farming enterprises in one day.”