Farmers gear up for Open Farm Sunday 2025

Farmers across the UK are making their final preparations for Open Farm Sunday 2025, an eagerly anticipated nationwide event that will see 270 farms open their gates – a 20% increase on last year – with about 200,000 visitors expected.

Open Farm Sunday on 8 June provides a vital platform for the public to connect with the realities of food production, land management, and environmental sustainability.

David Webster, chief executive of Linking Environment And Farming (Leaf), the organisation behind the event, highlighted its importance.

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“As our population becomes increasingly urbanised and detached from food production, it is more important than ever to have an open discussion about the balance between farming and nature,” said Mr Webster.

“The rise in visitor numbers shows the public’s genuine interest in sustainable farming and forming deeper connections with local farm businesses.”

Research shared by Leaf reveals a surprising gap in younger generations’ understanding of farming’s role, with only one in five Gen Z viewing farming as essential to tackling climate change.

Yet nearly half (46%) say they would consider a career in farming or food, showing strong curiosity and openness to learning more – something Open Farm Sunday helps foster by inviting visitors to experience farming firsthand.

Highlights from this year’s events include some standout farms offering diverse and engaging activities:

MHS Farms in Cambridgeshire hosts a huge two-day event featuring farm safaris, pick-your-own potatoes (with donations to East Anglian Air Ambulance), kids’ zones with pedal tractors, butter- and sausage-making demonstrations, sheep shows, and vintage machinery displays.

Home Farm Goodwood in West Sussex, with tickets sold out for its 3,000-visitor event, invites guests to explore organic farming over 4,000 acres of downland and 6,500 acres of woodland. Visitors can see heritage cattle, robotic milking machines, sheep shearing demos, and sheepdog trials.

Woodside Farm (Huntapac) in Shropshire offers timed walking tours showcasing one of the UK’s largest Leaf Marque-certified root vegetable producers, while Our Cow Molly in Sheffield displays green energy technology powering their dairy and ice cream production.

Other notable farms include Orchard Park Farm in Somerset, featuring cider apple orchards and a Cider Tasting Challenge, and Lurgan Farm in Scotland, where visitors can see sheepdog handling and learn about gamekeeping and forestry.

This year, Open Farm Sunday is especially significant amid growing pressures on farmers and the widening divide between urban and rural communities.

Find your nearest participating farm at farmsunday.org.