Baa humbug... Lambing open days hit by red tape

A FARMER who has opened her land every spring for 40 years so children can watch lambs being born claims red tape may force her to stop.

Jenny Passmore lets families visit during lambing and calving for a small fee.

But she claims new legislation could affect hundreds of working farms that also hold open days, making it harder for children from towns to see livestock.

Church Farm at Coombes, near Lancing in West Sussex, has been run by her family since 1901, and has welcomed half a million visitors over four decades.

But this year she and other farmers who exhibit animals for ‘educational or entertainment purposes’ had to buy an ‘animal activity licence’ under new rules from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). They used to be exempt under a 1925 law. Defra said the rules ensured farms and petting zoos respected animal welfare standards. But critics said other regulations already enforced such standards.

Church Farm welcomes 20,000 visitors over five weeks every spring. Mrs Passmore said she paid £300 for the licence and criminal record checks on staff or volunteers, not to mention extra admin.

She added: ‘They are not performing animals, they are giving birth.

‘It’s crazy. We are not an attraction, we are a working farm. I’m worried we won’t be able to open next year.’

There are fears that the licence could affect Open Farm Sunday on June 9, when hundreds of farms let people in to boost awareness of food production.

At Mrs Passmore’s farm, the entrance fee of £2 to £3 and tractor rides at £2.50 have not increased in 15 years. She warned: ‘We will have to put the price up, then it will be too costly for the public.’

David Leon, of the National Farm Attractions Network, said farmers ‘may conclude it’s more trouble than it’s worth and stop’, adding: ‘We were never consulted.’

A Defra spokesman said: ‘The law focuses on the welfare of animals for exhibition. This is to ensure animals are protected in a way they weren’t before.’