The countdown is on to Open Farm Sunday 2026

There is still time for farmers to register and take part in Open Farm Sunday’s 20^th anniversary this June.  

Open Farm Sunday Manager, Annabel Shackleton, says: “We’re so excited for this year's milestone event, and we would love to see as many farms across the country as possible opening their gates to showcase British farming. 

“Whether you’re a first-time host or a seasoned OFS participant, this is your chance to tell your farm’s story. LEAF is here to support with resources and guidance to help give you confidence to take part and make it as straightforward as possible.” 

At the heart of this year’s campaign are three simple but compelling reasons to get involved, whether that’s on Sunday 7^th June or another date in June. 

Connect 

Connecting farmers with their communities is one of the biggest benefits of Open Farm Sunday, strengthening ties with the local area and creating lasting links between farming and the public. 

Harriet Rix of Rix Farms, who hosted their first Open Farm Sunday event last year, says: “Our Open Farm Sunday event was a fantastic day. It was great to have people from our local community come out and support us.” 

As well as giving visitors a better understanding of farming, host farmers say it’s rewarding for the whole farm team, bringing them together and creating a sense of pride in what they do. 

Build trust 

By showing people what goes on behind the farm gate, farmers can correct misconceptions and have honest conversations about British agriculture that builds public trust. 

David Pye from Huntapac Produce Ltd., said that OFS visitors to their event in Shropshire last June truly valued seeing the scale of the operation and realities of the job, both the challenges as well as the successes. 

Educate 

For many visitors, Open Farm Sunday is their first experience on a working farm. 

A simple farm walk, sharing everyday farming activities, provides a fascinating and valuable opportunity to educate the public about our industry and how food is produced sustainably. 

By demonstrating our commitment to farming with nature, helps visitors understand how food production and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. 

Sign up 

The OFS team at LEAF are available to talk through how Open Farm Sunday can work for individuals and businesses. Once registered farmers can access a range of free resources. For more information and to register go to www.farmsunday.org. 

For a full press release, view here.

With thanks to our Open Farm Sunday principal sponsors:  AHDB, Arla Foods, BASF, Co-op, Defra, Frontier Agriculture, John Deere, LEAF Marque, Lidl, M&S, McDonald’s, NFU, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.