ON June 11, farmers across Devon and beyond will open their gates for a national celebration of farming and all it delivers, inviting the public to join them and discover where their food comes from.

LEAF Open Farm Sun­day is farming’s annu­al open day and has been the go-to event in the cal­en­dar since 2006, offer­ing a won­der­ful oppor­tu­ni­ty for vis­i­tors to get clos­er to farm­ing and the peo­ple that make it hap­pen. 

Each event is unique and every farm is dif­fer­ent, but what they all share is a pas­sion for farm­ing, amaz­ing exper­tise, and a com­mit­ment to car­ing for the countryside.

Some farms have been passed down through the gen­er­a­tions, oth­ers are man­aged by those who have cho­sen farm­ing as their career; each has its own spe­cial sto­ry to tell and LEAF Open Farm Sun­day is the ide­al chance to come and hear it. 

Farm­ers may have a host of activ­i­ties planned such as guid­ed farm walks and nature trails, bug hunts and soil pits, trac­tor and trail­er rides, dis­plays of mod­ern, high tech farm machin­ery and more.

There is a section of farms in our local area that will be open to visit. 

Daynes Farm

Daynes Farm in Harberton will be open 11am-4pm on Sunday, June, 11. Daynes farm is a mixed, organically, family run farm on the edge of the South Devon AONB. It has a herd of South Devon Cattle, a flock of mule sheep with some White Face Dartmoors, a herd of Boer goats and organic veg. 

Daynes Farm said: ‘We welcome you to Daynes Farm to visit our organic farm. We will have our cows, sheep, goats and pigs for you to meet. 

‘Farmer Dave will take you on farm tours, tractor and trailer to see our veg. Hot food, drinks will be available, but please feel free to bring a picnic. Our farm shop, butchery will be open.’

Visiting is free. For more information, please contact: 07815902604 or email [email protected].

Ladywell Farm

Ladywell is an organic dairy farm of 150 acres near Ivybridge, with 60 milking cows 60% herbal ley. It will be open on Sunday 11 June, 9am-5pm. Oliver Lee, the owner and director of How Now Dairy, will be conducting the farm tours during which he will be introducing the farm’s Ayrshire cows, giving you the low down on our fields of herbal leys and how this style of planting helps store extra carbon in our fields and how our farming practices enables us to be fully Carbon Negative.

He'll also be throwing some light on the processes used in getting milk on local doorsteps of households around beautiful South Devon.

The farm states: ‘This year we are opening the farm up for the day for you all to come and stay as long as you like. We will have other local farmers bringing machinery and animals, together with producers who supply our 'Local Favourites'.

‘Various farm tours will happen throughout the day and demonstrations from our Vet. We'll also have a variety of foods available during the main meal times of Breakfast, Lunch and Tea, so please bring your wallets as we will be CASH only, I'm afraid.

‘Keep an eye on our social media for updates on what's happening and who's coming!’

For more information, please contact: [email protected] or 01752 466870.

Woodrow Barton

Woodrow Barton is a 300 cow spring-calving grazing dairy farm, selling milk to the company Arla and also through Proper Milk vending machine.

They will be offering a free guided farm walk across the farm's grounds which will end in a milking session in the dairy parlour.Afterwards, visitors are welcome to stay and taste some of the farm’s Proper Milk and flavoured Proper Shakes.

The farm said: ‘We'd love you to join us for a guided farm walk. We will show you this year’s calves (3-4months’ old), last year’s heifers and the milking herd; explain how our stock graze rotationally around the pasture, how the parlour works, where the cows live in the winter and the silage they eat. We’ll finish by milking a row of cows on one side of the parlour for everyone to watch.

‘We anticipate this taking a couple of hours. We will be walking across fields, please wear wellies or equivalent and be prepared for the weather of the day!’

For more information, please contact: [email protected] or 07734 602049.

There are several other farms dotted around Devon that are also available to visit on the day. Click here to find out more.