The Oteley Estate in Ellesmere will open their farm gates on Sunday, June 9th for Open Farm Sunday. The 2,000-acre farm is home to Beef Shorthorn and Highland cattle, a flock of sheep, and some pigs.
Since the first national Open Farm Sunday in 2006, over 1,600 farmers across the UK have opened their gates and welcomed over 2.7 million people onto farms for one Sunday each year to showcase British farmers’ commitment to producing food.
The open day will give the public the opportunity to visit the Oteley Estate and get a glimpse into how their food is produced and what the farming estate does to manage the environment.
Following last year’s event, research from LEAF found 89% of visitors said that visiting a farm has encouraged them to buy more British food.[1]
At Oteley’s event, visitors will have the opportunity to get up close to the farm machinery, meet the cattle and Saddleback pigs and learn more about how they are reared.
Visitors can also learn about the importance of farm vets with Elaine Russell, Clinical Director at Brownlow Vets. The North Shropshire Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers will be showing visitors how the wool from Oteley’s sheep is turned into sustainable clothes.
“Come and learn about life on a farm in our beautiful surroundings. We’ll be joined by several businesses, including Liz Johnson from Frontier who works closely with farmers to market their grain to the global market, and Jo Williams from Williams Round who advises on day-to-day farming practices, alongside rural grants and payments including the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship and farm productivity grants. She is passionate about sustainable land management to protect assets for future generations.
“It’ll be a great day out, with refreshments available in our old stable yard and lots to see and do.”
The event will be open on June 9th from 11am until 3pm. Entry to the Open Farm Sunday is free, although visitors are asked to register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-farm-sunday-tickets-888352134147.
The estate’s onsite café and farm shop will be open for visitors to enjoy local produce. Their 10 acres of private gardens can also be explored. Entry to the gardens is £6 per adult and children go free.
For more information about the Oteley Estate visit www.oteley.com.
