Seven Devon farms to reveal what really happens behind the gates

May 08, 2023

Families will see first-hand what goes on

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Summer is about to get even more exciting because seven Devon farms are opening their gates for free family tours. If you or your kids are curious about how cows are milked, seeing hi-tech farming machinery or meeting some animals then these farms could have the answer for you on 11 June.

The farms are opening as part of LEAF's (Linking Environment and Farming) annual Open Farm Sunday, set up so the public can see the story behind our food as well as how the ancient industry of farming still affects our lives today. The aim is to teach people about farming and other things around it.

Each event put on by the farms is unique and displays how different types of farm works - cattle farms, sheep, pigs, dairies, crops, you name it, they've got it.

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It will make a fantastic summer day out with the family so be sure to bring a picnic and rug to sit out in the summer sun after milking a cow with a real dairy farmer or perhaps a relaxing nature walk in Devon's agricultural countryside.

These are the farms that are opening up on 11 June and what you can expect when you get there:

Woodrow Barton is a 300-cow spring-calving grazing dairy farm. They will be offering a free guided farm walk across the farm's grounds which will end in a milking session in the dairy parlour.

During the walk, they will show you this year's calves, just three or four months old now, as well as last year's heifers (a female cow that has not given birth) as well as the milking herd.

The farmers there will also explain how the cows are managed to graze the fields, how the parlour works, where the cows live in the winter and what they eat.

The tour will finish with an exciting display by the farmers who will milk a row of cows on one side of the parlour for everyone to watch. Guests are then welcomed to taste some of their Proper Milk and flavour Proper Shakes. They sell their milk to Arla and also through Proper Milk vending machines.

The tour will last a couple of hours and starts at 10:30 am, the address of the farm is Brampford Speke, Exeter, Devon, EX5 5DZ. Wellies are advised as the walk will go across fields. To book the tour click here, for more information, click here.

Babbacombe Dairy is an organic dairy right on the stunning North Devon coastline. They will be laying on animal displays for visitors on the beautiful green pastures above the rolling waves below and guests will be able to see the cows being milked.

There is also an opportunity for a walk around the grounds or a tractor and trailer ride through the fields. Tractors and machinery will also be on display to satisfy the curious minds of those interested in agriculture and inspire kids who might want to be farmers when they grow up.

There are also children's drawing competitions to be held on the day along with lots of fun facts told by staff to educate people on the hows and whys of farming in the UK.

The event is free and starts at 10 am and ends at 4 pm. The address of the farm is Babbacombe Dairy, Abbotsham, Bideford, Devon, EX39 5BN. For more information, click here.

Daynes Farm is a mixed, organically run family farm in the South Devon AONB. The farm has a big range of different livestock and crops that they grow which will all be on show on the open day.

A herd of South Devon cattle, a flock of mule sheep with some White Face Dartmoors, a herd of Boer goats and a set of pigs will all be there for you to meet. But that's not all, Farmer Dave will take you out on farm tours in a tractor and trailer to see the vegetables they have growing at the farm.

Hot food and drinks will also be available on the visit but the organisers said that families can feel free to bring a picnic to enjoy there, The farm also has a butchery and a farm shop, both of which will be open for visitors.

A spokesperson said: "We are really enthusiastic to welcome people to Daynes Farm to show them how we farm in an environmental, sustainable, high welfare way."

The farm will be open from 11 am to 4 pm and it is a free event. The address is Harberton, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7FB. For more information click here.

Blackberry Farm is a beef and sheep farm with an onsite farm shop and tea room. At their event, you can watch a birds of prey demonstration on horseback by Johnathan Marshall and his Black Beauty called Amadeus in an amazingly dramatic display.

There are also live farrier demonstrations and harnessing and driving demonstrations. The fun does not stop there either with a bouncy castle being thrown into the mix alongside pong rides and face painting.

There is also set to be a craft fair put on at the farm with local artisans and craftspeople teaching how they do their trade. There will be a glass cutter there, someone teaching people how to whittle and also a wool worker too.

There is also a barbecue set to happen too. Vintage machinery will also be set out for display and, of course, families can visit the animals they have on-site like horses, ponies, donkeys, goats and even alpacas. Then you can follow it up with a refreshing cuppa in the farm's tea room.

The event is also free and starts from 10 am to 4 pm. The address is Milton Damerel, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7NP. For more information, click here.

From cattle to sheep and poultry to wildflower meadows, woodland and ponds, Dennings Down Farm has a wonderful mixture of different types of farming on its 190 acres. The open day is aimed at families with activities laid on for kids.

The farm is open for exploration and you can meet a friendly farmer there too who can answer questions about the running of the place too. Cows, calves, ewes and lambs decorate the beautiful meadows at Dennings Down Farm too for families to admire.

Sheep steering, pond dipping, and bee and poultry-keeping activities are all part of the event's parcel. The farm also has 25 acres of wildflower meadows and five ponds. Local expert botanists are on site too to answer questions about the landscape and the wildlife there.

In their 30 acres of woodland campfire and forest school activities are laid on with a forester explaining the life of the woods which are used as a school education and growing area.

There are also going to be tractors, both old and new types, for children to climb up onto and play around in as well as a wool spinning demonstration.

Admission is free and the event starts from 11 am to 4 pm. Tea and cake are available there too for £3 and the proceeds plus any donations will go to Farm Africa and ARC counselling charity in Axminster.

The address of Dennings Down Farm is Smallridge, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7JN. For more information click here.

Ladywell Farm is an organic dairy farm of 150 acres with 60 milking cows. The farm will be open throughout the day and guests are welcome to stay as long as they like.

Other local farmers are set to bring machinery and animals to the farm to show them to visitors together with producers who supply the farms 'Local Favourites'.

Various farm tours are also set to be put on throughout the event as well as demonstrations from the farm's vet. Food is also available at the farm during breakfast, lunch and for afternoon tea - it is cash only, so make sure to bring your wallet.

Oliver Lee, owner and director of How Now Dairy will be leading a tour introducing the farm's Ayrshire cows and teaching about herbal leys - a style of planting which helps store extra carbon in the farm's field and keep the farm fully carbon negative.

Oliver will also talk about how the farm sells its milk to the local area too.

The event starts at 9 am and finishes at 5 pm and is free. The address of the farm is How Now Dairy Ltd, Ladydown, Ugborough, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 0PG. For more information, click here.

Clinton Devon farm is an organic dairy farm too. They have around 650 cows that they milk regularly. They provide a milk vending machine with fresh milk and a choice of delicious milkshake syrups.

The event will include a dairy farm tour at 10:30 am, 12 pm and 1:30 pm. The staff there will show guests around the machinery they use and explain how it all works too. There will be a barbecue on site too as well as an ice cream van to enjoy. There will also be milkshakes available made at the farm for donation on site as well for a cool refreshing drink on a hot June Sunday.

There will be fun facts told to visitors too about running the farm and how they produce and sell their products.

The event starts at 10 am and ends at 4 pm on 11 June, the address of the farm is Otter Farm, Church Road, Colaton Raleigh, Devon, EX10 0LW.

For more information about the event contact 07929 206968 or email [email protected].