MORE than a quarter of a million people visited farms during LEAF's Open Farm Sunday event, which was hosted on 358 farms across the country earlier this month.

LEAF chief executive, Caroline Drummond, welcomed this turn-out and stressed how important it was that farmers hosted such events: “As the industry negotiates its way towards leaving the European Union, it has never been more important for farmers to reach out to their customers, and OFS plays a critical role in making this happen," she said.

"We’d like to say thank you to all farmers who hosted events this year, their helpers and our sponsors. Their passion and energy will go a long way to making a difference to how the public perceive farming, and understand its value, and we’d like even more people to have a chance to visit a farm next year.”

Now in its twelfth year, OFS hosts reported higher than expected figures: "We have had another spectacular year, with visitor numbers showing a clear interest from the public in finding out more about farming," said Ms Drummond. "This year’s OFS was a day the whole industry should be justifiably proud of."

In one Scottish example, more than than 300 members of the public attended the open day on Easter Cadder Farm, Caledonian Estate, near Kirkintilloch, where LEAF highlighted how important it was for landowners, tenants, contractors, employees, and the wider public, to maintain strong relationships and partnerships to ensure successful businesses and livelihoods.

Activities and live demonstrations on the day included machinery, livestock and arable cropping displays, a casting demonstration, a fishing display, and a gundog presentation. Caledonian Estate was chosen particularly for its convenient location, as it sits on the outskirts of Bishopbriggs, and is just five miles away from Glasgow.

The estate admitted that its near-urban location does produce some challenges, such as rural crime and fly tipping, but that it has also created a number of opportunities, which it has taken advantage of. These have included the lease of land for a waste recycling plant, a golf driving range and a commercial lease to a children’s care home charity.

Nearby farms which did not host open days of their own also provided livestock, conducted demonstrations, helped with the set-up and arranged for the Royal Highland Education Trust to host a stand, while the estate’s farm contractors, the Wilson family, together with estate tenant, James Rankin, and the estate maintenance team, led by foreman Graham Robson, all assisted in bringing the day together.

Charlotte Maclean, of rural consultancy, Galbraith, which organised the event alongside CBRE, said: “The Wilson family has been a key part in the estate’s farming decision making process for more than 20 years. Along with the estate’s agronomy advisors, they bring technical knowledge and on-the-ground experience to the management team which is highly valued.”

Farming contractor for the estate, Andrew Wilson, added: “It’s been a delight to be involved in the event and I believe it’s really highlighted to the public how effective good partnerships on estates can be.”

Richard Oliver of Caledonian Estate concluded: “We were thrilled to host the estate’s first LEAF Open Farm Sunday on Easter Cadder Farm. There are countless individuals, organisations and groups involved in the day to day running of the estate and this was very apparent to all the visitors at the event.

"Their hard work and commitment is the reason the land remains so productive and well utilised, the estate’s survival depends on them and this in turn has a positive effect on the local economy and community.”