ONCE AGAIN, the James Hutton Institute took part in Open Farm Sunday, this time welcoming hundreds to its Glensaugh research farm to experience a stunning managed upland environment with geological formations, agroforestry, sheep grazing, bracken and heather, woodlands, small lochs and red deer.

Hosting for the first time, Donald Barrie and his Glensaugh team presented a perspective on Hutton farming and agricultural practice that is less familiar to the public and to colleagues that what they typically see at Mylnefield farm on such occasions.

Colleagues from the other Hutton farms and from science groups across our sites contributed content and insight to over a dozen displays that were very warmly received by all comers, and the popularity of the trailer tours onto the farm’s hill ground more than justified the farm team’s effort in making the slow journey north with two of them, plus a plot combine – not common kit for Glensaugh.

There was a fair bit of local and neighbourly interest and curiosity, but plenty others had come from further afield, and others again had simply turned up to the farm on seeing the roadside banner on the Cairn o’Mount road.

As a first venture into Open Farm Sunday for Glensaugh, the day was a successful demonstration that there is no shortage of interest in the Institute’s work, in all its variety and that people genuinely appreciate the opportunity to see and hear about what the Institute does, even on a grey day.