Open Farm Sunday at West Bradley Orchards

David Cotton, left, and Neil Macdonald, with two of David's calves

Orchard Groundforce and Bridge Farm, neighbours in West Bradley, Somerset, are joining forces for this year’s Open Farm Sunday.

Open Farm Sunday, a free event, is to be held on June 12 this year. It is an opportunity to visit local farms and find out what happens on them. This will be the sixth Open Farm Sunday and over 450 farms across the country are expected to open to the public. 

Neil Macdonald, from Orchard Groundforce, said 

“We have 58 acres of apples, pears and walnuts here at West Bradley.  We will be running tours around the orchards and answering questions about everything we do here.” 

“The Orchard Pig Gloucester Old Spot piglets will also be here to welcome visitors, and there will be food for the hungry and drinks for the thirsty.”

Bridge Farm, adjacent to West Bradley Orchards, is a dairy farm run by David Cotton, chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.

“We’re a family farm. I’m the fourth generation and we farm 600 acres with 160 milking cows, over 300 young stock around the farm and lots of calves.”

“Many people see farmers working, but they don’t have an opportunity to get beyond the farm gates to see what happens, so this is a chance for people to find out what farmers do on a daily basis.  They can ask questions and see behind the scenes.”

“All our milk is sold through the Co-op Milk Link.  It goes down to Wiseman’s at Bridgewater and is sold through the supermarkets, so if people are buying locally produced West Country milk there’s a chance that it comes from us.”

“On Open Farm Sunday there will be calves for people to see, and beef animals that we are rearing for the food chain, plus some of our machinery for people interested in equipment.”

“We also have some lovely footpaths that go right through the middle of the farm.  We grow wheat here as well and there’s an opportunity to take a circular walk that brings you back to West Bradley.”

Visitors should come to West Bradley Orchards, BA6 8LT, where there will be free parking.  Both farms will be open 10.00 - 4.00.

West Bradley is between Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet, 2 miles off the A361/A37