Pull on your wellies! That’s the message from the organisers of this year’s Open Farm Sunday event, who are throwing open the gates for people to learn what really goes on at a working farm.

All over Dorset, farmers are hosting fun and informative days out for all the family as part of the annual campaign run by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), which works with farmers, scientists and consumers to inspire and enable sustainable farming.

On Sunday, June 11, visitors to farms including those in Wimborne, Christchurch, Ringwood, Cranborne, New Milton, Sherborne and Wareham can see firsthand all that farmers do and the impact their work has on all our lives.

LEAF hopes the event will show that the industry has a vital role in not only producing safe, nutritious food, but also using the latest science and technology to farm sustainably – which means increasing production while managing the environment for wildlife and enhancing our natural resources for generations to come.

“Modern farming is incredibly diverse and impacts on all of us,” explains Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday manager at LEAF, “from the clothes we wear to the medicines we take and the food we eat.

“Farming plays a vital part in each of our live. LEAF Open Farm Sunday gives us the rare opportunity to see farming in real life and to learn about the hard work, care and pride that goes into the work farmers do, which is so vital to the environment, our lives and the economy.”

Since the first Open Farm Sunday in 2006, more than 1.8m people have visited a LEAF Open Farm Sunday event. This year, farms across the country, from Cornwall to Orkney, will provide young and old with an opportunity to see farming in action and learn more about the work farmers are so proud to do.

The mostly free events will offer a range of activities from tractor trailer rides, farm walks and bug hunts, to feeding lambs, sheep shearing and milking demonstrations.

The technology and science behind farming and food production will also be a focus; providing visitors with a fascinating insight into the world of farming.

Alongside Open Farm Sunday, many farms are also hosting Open Farm School Days throughout June, when thousands of schoolchildren are given the opportunity to visit a farm to learn more about where their food comes from and how it is produced.

So circle the date in your diary, visit farmsunday.org to find your local open farm, and get set to discover the world of farming.