A RIBBLE VALLEY farm is opening its gates this Sunday to show people where their food really comes from.

Windy Pike Farm in Gisburn is taking part in the national Open Farm Sunday to encourage the public to find out more about how farming works.

For Henry and Maureen Rowntree it’s the 10th year they have opened up their 500-acre farm under the scheme, one of 400 across the country.

Youngsters will learn about Aberdeen Angus cattle which are bred on the farm, be able to walk through a field of up to 20 bulls with Henry, find out about ancient woodlands and wander through bluebell woods.

At previous Open Farm Sundays visitors have travelled from as far afield as Harrogate, Halifax and throughout East Lancashire.

“People love seeing the bulls. We have a field of breeding bulls for saleand people can go into the field with them with Henry. They can also see the cows and calves and sheep. Everything is done with safety in mind,” said Maureen.

“The bluebells are absolutely stunning at the moment. My husband loves having people on the farm and telling them about it and showing them how the farm works. He loves explaining everything and answering people’s questions and hopefully people go away happy knowing how their food is produced,” she said.

Then, at the end of the guided farm walk, Maureen cooks up a few cuts of beef for people to taste.

Open Farm Sunday is organised by the Linking Environment And Farming (Leaf) charity. “It’s staggering how many children don’t know where their food comes from. Modern children’s lives have changed so much that one in three of them has never heard a cow moo – except perhaps on the TV. Such gaps in experience and knowledge are part of the reason why Leaf ismholding Open Farm Sunday, “ said charity spokeswoman Annabel Shackleton.

Windy Pike farm, listed in the Domesday Book with the farmhouse ‘modernised’ in 1700, welcomes visits throughout the year as well. It has been in the Rowntree’s hands for three generations. On Sunday it will open from 2-5pm. More details at ribbleaberdeen-angus.co.uk.