HUNDREDS of farms across Britain opened up to the public in an initiative dreamed up by a Harpenden farmer.

The first ever Farm Sunday was the brainchild of Ian Pigott, who runs two farms just north of Harpenden Thrales End and Annables and a third near Markyate.

He said: "This is the culmination of many people's efforts throughout the past months.

"It is a very simple idea, creating an opportunity for adults and children to visit a farm close to where they live and to see what a wonderful job farmers are doing to look after the countryside.

"Many people think bread comes from Sainsbury's and milk comes from Tesco."

He himself opened up Annables Farm, an arable enterprise off Annables Lane, last Sunday week, giving tractor tours and demonstrations.

Mr Pigott is keen to encourage wildlife, for example with beetle banks, unplanted field margins and new hedgerows, and farms in consultation with the RSPB and Rothamsted Research.

More than 350 farms participated in Farm Sunday, which was organised through LEAF (Linking Environment and Food), a national charity he is involved with.

For more about Mr Pigott's farms and ideas, visit the website www.thralesend.co.uk

9:31am Friday 23rd June 2006

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