After three long years of COVID restricted waiting, Bedfordia Farms at last opened its gates to the public on June 19, for Open Farm Sunday (OFS).
As part of the national initiative sponsored by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), this was an ideal opportunity to find out where our food comes from and to see how a working farm operates in the context of the wider environment.
Every OFS event is different – the Bedfordia team of staff and volunteers provided a wide range of activities for all the family which included a kids corner, an educational area, a machinery display, Young Farmers competitions, tea tent, hog roast, various stalls, pig pen and trailer rides around the farm.
Jane Bloomfield, Director of Business Support and OFS Project Manager said: ‘Open Farm Sunday gives us the perfect opportunity to engage with the local community to showcase British farming, highlighting ‘food to fork’. We are delighted to help support these amazing local charities and this year’s fabulous total is down to the amazing generosity and support of the public. I’m so proud of our team and the numerous volunteers who gave up their valuable time to help make Open Farm Sunday such a huge success.’
Free to enter, all the generous public contributions and monies raised were gifted to local charities, which this year were the FCN (Farming Community Network), Impakt Housing and Support in Bedford and East Anglian Air Ambulance.
With the grand total raised of £6,781.96 split three ways, each charity was presented with a cheque for £2,260.65.
Babz Astle, Community Services Manager at Impakt said: ‘Huge congratulations on the success of The Open Farm Sunday, with lots of visitors who were treated to an abundance of farming activities.
Thank you so much for choosing us as one of the charities on the day and the amazing donation will be put to good use in supporting our valuable work in the local community.’
Alex Phillimore, Head of Communications and Development at FCN said: “We would like to thank Bedfordia for their incredible support for FCN. Fundraising and donations help us to continue providing support to farmers and farming families during difficult times and through the challenges and changes ahead.”
Sarah Cunningham, Community Fundraising – Bedfordshire at East Anglian Air Ambulance said: ‘We were thrilled Bedfordia chose to support us with their Open Farm event this year. It proved to be a hugely successful day and I’d like to thank everyone involved, we really appreciate your support. It’s donations like this that keep us flying and saving lives, thanks again.’
An annual event, Open Farm Sunday returns next year on Sunday, June 11, 2023. Bedfordia Farms only takes part every other year, due to the commitment it takes to stage this.
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