Fancy a free family day out that’s fun, educational and eye-opening? Get yourself down to one of these local farms this weekend for Open Farm Sunday on Sun 9 June.

Woodoaks Farm, Maple Cross

Family on a tractor trailer ride at a farm

Meet the farmers at this 300 acre nature-led farm, which has been family run since the 1920’s, and discover how they are transitioning to an organic and regenerative system to help improve food sustainability and biodiversity. For the kids there’ll be tractor rides with Farmer John, a chance to meet the cows, guided rander walks with Farm Ranger Steve, minibeast encounters with Eco Ted. Plus there’s loads of interesting stuff going on for grown-ups, too, including a tour of the on-site Golden Rose Flower Farm and PYO Sessions, Rickey’s alkaline market garden and fruit forest, mini beer tour at the on-site Creative Juices Brewing Company with brewers Paul and Ben, a speedy hot compost workshop, a talk on the farm’s Black Barn Project with the Soil Association Land Trust, nutrition workshops and the chance to meet local artist Romey T Brough and watch her at work. And there’ll be refreshments provided by The Tea Shack and Creative Juices Brewing Company. Entry is free but you’ll need to register. Car parking is £2 and tractor trailer rides are £3. 10am – 4pm.

Easthall Farm, Hitchin

This regenerative farm with a passion for conservation and recreating natural habitats, produces high quality beef and arable crops (including oats for Jordan’s cereals). It also runs a forest school as part of an Outdoor Learning and Education programme, with Open Farm Sunday being a great opportunity to educate and engage the public in their work with the local environment. Take a tractor and trailer or walking tour to explore the farm (booking required) and explore the walled garden, fruit orchard and woodlands. 2pm – 3.30pm.

Bedfordia Farm, Milton Earnest

Predominantly an arable farm – think nearly 2.5k hectares of wheat, oil seed rape and beans – this Bedfordshire farm is opening its gates for free on Sunday although some charges apply so bring your cash. There’ll be tractor rides, toy tractors and crafts for the kids, farm tours, nature walks and environmental talks, plus the chance to get up close to some farm machinery and residents (the animals that is!) and taste some farm-fresh food, including hog roast (from Muddy Award winning Best Destination Pub, The Sun Inn), sheep’s milk cheese, artisan bread and pies). 11am – 4pm.

Rothamsted Research Farm, Harpenden

Discover what goes on at an agricultural research estate with the chance to see real life experiments and farm machinery in action, meet the farmers and scientists who are working on the future of our food production and explore on foot (or by tractor trailer – pre-book here) the 300 hectare farm. You can also book a lovely afternoon tea to enjoy in the stunning Grade I-listed Rothamsted Manor, (which will also be open for hot and cold drinks), or al fresco on the Manor lawn, where there’ll be outdoor games to enjoy, too. 11am – 4pm.

RVC Boltons Park Farm, Potters Bar

Have a moo-ch around at the cows, sheep and chickens on this working livestock farm, which is also used for educating students of the Royal Veterinary College. There’ll be a chance to meet the students and find out more about what they are learning here with some fun family activities, see the dairy herd and buy their fresh milk, meet the Police Rural Support Team and learn about their role in the community and peer down the microscope to find out about scientific discoveries. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the garden – you’ll also find a farm shop selling lovely fresh produce – but you’ll have to leave your doggie at home for this one. Book here. 10am – 3.30pm.

Woodhall Estate, Hertford

Family-run for over 200 years, the Woodhall Estate encompasses historic properties, parkland, farmland, woodland, wildflower meadows, rivers, wetlands and pastures, so there’s lots of exploring to be had. Find out all about how the team are working to protect the estate’s legacy whilst moving with the times at this year’s Open Farm Sunday event, where there’ll be machinery demos, trailer rides, walks and more. It’s free to attend but booking is recommended. Book here. 10am – 3pm.

The best local farms to visit this Open Farm Sunday

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