Open Farm Sunday 2025 – 1st June
The whole family is welcome at our FREE Open Farm Sunday 2025 event, 10am – 4pm. It’s the last Sunday of the May half term, so whether you live locally or you’re holidaying on the North Norfolk Coast, come and visit our working farm.
Cultivating Connections
Open Farm Sunday aims to connect people to farming and food production; to build insight, understanding and trust in more sustainable farming. By opening up our organic arable farm to visitors, we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation of how farmers are working with nature to protect and regenerate our environment, while producing the food we all need to live. Come and learn about the connections between food, farming and nature. Food connects us all.
What activities will you have at Open Farm Sunday 2025?
There will be activities suitable for all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. We are still confirming some of our activities, but here’s a taste of what you will be able to experience at Deepdale Farm on Sunday 1st June:
- Climb up into a combine to imagine the view come harvest time
- Unpick an owl pellet to discover what our resident barn owls feast on
- Admire the views of Scolt Head Island as you tour the farm on foot, and learn about our farming practices. The guided walk departs at 11.30am.
- Have a go at green woodworking and see what you could create
- Learn about the support that Norfolk Rivers Trust provides to farmers
- Discover the nocturnal world of bats with Norfolk & Norwich Bat Group
- Find out about the birds that call our farm home with the Iceni Bird Monitoring Group. In addition to information in the farmyard, there is a separate early morning bird ringing demonstration session, see below
- Discover where our grain goes to and what food it becomes
- Meet Bessie, a working cobb, and possibly her friend Summer
- Find out what happens when we ‘plant our pants’!
Price: FREE but please pre-book your place, to help us plan for appropriate numbers.
The guided farm walk
The walk is about 3km, which takes approximately 1.5 hours, with regular stops and discussions about our crops, regenerative and organic farming practices, woodland and wildlife. It will take you to areas of the farm not usually open to the public, with fantastic views of Scolt Head Island and Brancaster Harbour.
We have found this walk is most appropriate for ages 12+, but this is at your discretion depending on your child’s interest in farming and wildlife, and their capacity for a good walk. Last year we had lots of children who asked fantastic questions to keep us on our toes!
Please come suitably dressed for the weather, with decent shoes/boots for walking as there will be some dirt tracks and uneven ground. Despite us being in ‘flat’ Norfolk there is a gentle uphill climb and descent. We will be walking on fields and crossing field boundaries, therefore this walk may not be suitable for wheelchair users. Please email us with any queries.
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome. There is no need to pre-book the walk in advance, you can decide on the day, but please do pre-book your place for Open Farm Sunday in general to help us plan for appropriate numbers.
Bird ringing demonstration
In addition to the main event, the Lamsdells, from the Iceni Bird Monitoring Group are running a bird ringing demonstration at 8.30am. This will last an hour, so you can also enjoy the activities in the farmyard and farm walk.
This is an opportunity for a small group of 8 people to see what is involved in bird monitoring on the farm. The Lamsdells will explain how they monitor the birds, what species have been found on the farm at which times of year, and if any birds are caught they will demonstrate how they are then monitored. This session is weather dependent.
About LEAF and Open Farm Sunday
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) – the leading organisation delivering more sustainable food and farming. Their mission is to inspire and enable more circular approaches to farming and food systems through integrated, regenerative and vibrant nature-based solutions, that deliver productivity and prosperity among farmers, enriches the environment and positively engages young people and wider society. LEAF Open Farm Sunday is a nationwide campaign giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about farming and the countryside, and farmers the chance to talk about what they’re so proud of: British food and farming!
Directions and Car Parking
- Follow the postcode PE31 8DD, turning in where the large green sign says Deepdale Camping & Rooms
- Drive up the drive a short way and follow the Car Park signs for Open Farm Sunday, into the farm yard on your left
- Once you’ve parked, please follow the signs and team directing you
