Large open day - 100+ visitors

Every year, Hampton Estate in Surrey will be illustrating how they farm regeneratively and manage the land to restore nature, with worm digging, pond dipping, tractor demonstrations, tree planting and much more!

“We love connecting people with what we do, and we’ve always done it in some way or other, from bringing schools on to the farm to selling our beef direct from the farm gate,” says Molly Biddell.

“LOFS takes connecting to the public to a whole new level. We love it - seeing everyone get stuck in and enjoying what they’re doing gives you such a buzz. Through LOFS we can reach people from further afield - we are one of the closest OFS farms to London, and it’s great to welcome people from the city.”

Molly will be recreating a popular activity from 2019, a woodland walk with a quiz to identify different tree species. At the end, visitors have the chance to plant a tree to as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Project and to grow the OFS woodland that was started in 2019. There will also be a forestry demonstration and chance to ask the forestry team questions.

Other activities include a wildlife meadow for birdwatching, digging for worms, meeting the Hampton cows and Huckleberries goats and chickens, question time for the local vet, watching a gun dog demonstration, pond dipping in the newly restored freshwater pond, and learning about the estate’s pasture-fed system. Molly will also be making the most of the colourful information boards and activities available from LEAF to tell the estate’s story.

Molly, who credits the “fantastic” team and extended family on the estate who all get stuck in and make the day happen, has invited other experts, including Huckleberries Nurture Farm, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Space for Nature, the Pasture for Life Association The Livestock Vet Partnership and Tices’ Meadow to get involved to tell their part of the farming story to visitors. The estate are excited to welcome the Surrey Voluntary Police Cadets who will be there to help run the logistics of the event.

Molly, who also works for Knepp Estate in Sussex, specialising in natural capital and community engagement, says bringing people onto farm is the most powerful way to illustrate the role farming plays in wider society:

“Eco-anxiety is a growing phenomenon and there is a divergence of opinion on how to best protect the planet. If we can illustrate first-hand that good rural land management can provide the solution to many of the challenges society faces – healthy food, access to green space, climate change mitigation and species protection, it might inspire others to get involved. Rural hasn’t always been seen as cool but there’s growing realisation of its pivotal importance. We need to connect people to the relevance of the rural world and show how informed choices can address a lot of environmental issues.”

Keen to take part and host an event this year? Register your event here.

Questions? Contact the Open Farm Sunday team: OpenFarmSunday@leaf.eco or phone 07912 463151