Meetings, top tips and training
Join us in person or online
Whether you’re thinking of hosting your first LEAF Open Farm Sunday event this year or you’re a regular host, join us in person at one of our free breakfast meetings taking place between 9 and 11am.
- Find out more about LOFS and how to open your farm
- Learn how to communicate your story to the public
- Speak with like-minded people and experienced hosts
- Develop plans for your LOFS event
- Find out who your local ambassador is here.
LOFS Breakfast Meetings
Location | Date | Booking link |
Screveton, Nottinghamshire | 16th February | |
Farnham, Surrey | 1st March | https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CBBA |
Ceredigion, Wales | 7th March | |
Perth, Scotland | 7th March (6pm) | https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CCZH (dial in option) |
Callington, Cornwall | 10th March | https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CBBD |
Milnthorpe, Cumbria | 14th March | |
Bath, Somerset | 15th March | https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CBBB |
County Durham | 21st March | https://www.trybooking.co.uk/CBYO |
Thetford, Norfolk | 28th March | |
Kidderminster, Worcestershire | 4th April |
*Dates and locations subject to change.
Online meetings
In addition, we’re running some online Zoom meetings for those unable to attend our breakfast meetings.
Please register by clicking on the dates below that you would like to attend.
- 21st March 2023, 7 – 9pm
Planning your event: help, support, and resources overview - 25th April 2023, 7 – 9pm
Sharing your farming story and promoting your event - 23rd May 2023, 7 – 9pm
Last minute top tips and get your questions answered
Keen to chat now? Contact the LOFS team here.
Share your support! Encourage your farming contacts, friends and networks to get involved and join in the LOFS conversations on social media:
- Twitter: @openfarmsunday #LOFS23
- Facebook: @LEAFopenfarmsunday
- Instagram: @openfarmsunday
Top tips from our LOFS Ambassadors:
Rebecca Dawes — LOFS Ambassador, Scotland
“Never be afraid to ask for help, it is such a rewarding day for everyone involved. Your vet, local feed merchant, machinery dealer, agronomist or farm advisor could give a small talk about what they do and maybe bring a few props like animal feed or wheat seed. A “Farmer Question Time” always goes down well at our event, where local farmers each volunteer to do a 15-minute slot to answer questions.”
Anne Mair-Chapman — LOFS Ambassador, North East
“Make your event fun, friendly and forget the farming jargon! After the year we’ve all had, your event needs to feel like a bit of light relief in the fresh air. An informal introduction as people arrive is sometimes all it takes to get the questions going — remember your audience and think of other ways to describe the work you do, farming terms are not always self-explanatory!”
Rona Amiss — LOFS Ambassador, South West
“Get lots of help from neighbours, friends and anyone else you can think of! It makes it much more fun and everyone enjoys themselves.”
Helen Chappell — LOFS Ambassador, North West
“This is the year to host! The public are wanting to connect with farms and the environment — not just to learn about the farming life but also for the health and wellbeing benefits. The support and guidance is easily accessible and the ambassadors are here to help. The general public are just as apprehensive as the farming community, but they too are determined to embrace the new normal, Covid safe way of doing things.”
Andy Guy — LOFS Ambassador, Midlands
“Plan ahead
The most successful events are those where the hosts have planned for every eventuality. Think about car parking, helpers and volunteers, health and safety, activities for kids and families, promotion and what you can do if it rains. If its all sorted before the big day you will have a stress-free event.
On the day.
Brief your helpers in advance so everyone knows what they are doing and what your visitors can see and do. Once the first visitors start to arrive all you need to do is activate your plan and enjoy the day! If you’ve planned well and have contingencies for things like weather it should all go smoothly.
After the event.
Thank your helpers, tidy up and crack open a beer/cup of tea and relax. Share memories of the day with your helpers, update your Facebook page with some photos and start thinking about LOFS 2022.”
If you would like to talk through your LEAF Open Farm Sunday event ideas now, get in touch with a LOFS ambassador today — you can find the LOFS team’s contact details here.
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