Free "Walking With Farmers" Tours From TSE and DEFRA
A group of privately-owned working farms across south-east England will open their gates to the public this autumn in a bid to "re-connect people to the land."
Ten farms in Hampshire, East and West Sussex, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and parts of Greater London have agreed to host visitors on free guided walking tours around their pastures, cattle sheds, animal pens, barns and workshops.
Tours will be hosted by farmers, many of whom are specialists in organic farming, animal husbandry or environmental stewardship.
The farm tours have been made possible by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Tourism South East, the region's strategic tourism body.
Tourism South East's programme manager for sustainable tourism, Rachel Simpson said: "Many people live near working farms, but many will never have actually visited one. These tours will give the public, including individuals, families, schools and special interest groups, a unique chance to go behind-the-scenes of a working farm and learn what a complex workplace it really is."
"In addition to farmers, other guides will also be on hand talking about countryside access and rights of way across farmland. Guests will be able to ask questions and take photographs. Free car parking, toilets and refreshments will be available at most locations."
Rachel added that many farm owners receive regular requests for tours from specialist groups and interested individuals. She said that the Defra/TSE scheme is designed to "allow visitors to re-connect with the land, something often lost as we go about our busy lives. Farm produced food makes up a significant part of our daily diet and many will appreciate an opportunity to see where much of this food comes from."
Participating farms include:
Hampshire - Rotherfield Park Estate, East Tisted, Alton, Hants - 6th October 2005
East Sussex - Beech Farm, Netherfield Hill, Nr. Battle, E.Sussex - 15th October 2005
Kent - Romshed Farm, Bank Lane, Underriver, Sevenoaks, Kent - 16th October 2005
Surrey - Hampton Estate, Seale, Nr. Farnham, Surrey - 22nd October 2005
Berkshire - Sheepdrove Organic Farm, Lambourn, Berks - 23rd October 2005
Oxfordshire - Hall Farm, South Moreton, Nr. Didcot, Oxon - 29th October 2005
Isle of Wight - Appuldurcombe Farm, Wroxall, Isle of Wight - 3rd November 2005
West Sussex - Broadbridge Farm, Nr. Horsham, W.Sussex - 5th November 2005
Buckinghamshire - Swanbourne Estate, Swanbourne, Bucks - 12th November 2005
Greater London - Court Farm, Church Lane, Chaldon, Surrey - 13th November 2005
Farm walks will commence at 1.30pm at all locations, finishing between 3-3.30pm and visitors are advised to reserve places in advance through the farm walks website; www.farmwalks.co.uk or by calling Tourism South East on 02380 625547.
Further information on the walks is available from James Blair/Rachel Simpson on 02380 625499 / 07930464134 or jblair@tourismse.com / rsimpson@tourismse.com or contact Jodie Hodge, Corporate Communications, on 02380 625502 or jhodge@tourismse.com