Farm: Overbury Farms. Address: Overbury Farms, Estate Office, Overbury, Glos, GL20 7NR. Jake Freestone (farmer):

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1 Farm: Overbury Farms Address: Overbury Farms, Estate Office, Overbury, Glos, GL20 7NR Jake Freestone (farmer): For the 7th year my team and I are looking forward to seeing everyone at Overbury Farms on Open Farm Sunday (17 th June). As a longstanding member of LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), the organisers of Open Farm Sunday, Overbury Farms is committed to managing the farm as efficiently and sustainably as possible. The day is therefore a great opportunity for us to talk to visitors about all the work we do to both produce great food whilst caring for our beautiful Gloucestershire and Worcestershire countryside. We also explain to visitors why we were delighted when Overbury attained LEAF Marque accreditation in 2007 which is further evidence of how we produce good food with care and to high environmental standards. Visitors will have an opportunity to discover the story behind their food and in particular the LEAF Marque certification which is identified in-store and on pack by the LEAF Marque logo. On Open Farm Sunday visitors are invited to join myself or one of my team for a tractor and trailer ride around Overbury Farm. The ride (*which we ask visitors to pre book and lasts around 1.5 hours) offers a tour around some of the 4000 acres we farm and will include an opportunity to see many of the crops we grow such as wheat, barley, feed beans, oil seed rape and grass as well as some of our 1100 sheep and their lambs. After the farm tour we will be offering visitors the chance to take part in the first national farm pollinator survey which we are taking part in along with a selection of other Open Farm Sunday host farms. The guided tractor and trailer ride will also pass the Overbury Stud, and provide a chance to see some of the farm machinery used on the farm. Joining the Overbury team will be a number of industry experts, such Dominic Swainson (Agrii) (our plant doctor), Stuart Veall from Syngenta, and William Fox, from Frontier Agriculture, who buys our wheat to sell in different local markets. So visitors will get the chance to find out how we re using the latest technology and scientific research to farm sustainably. And finally it is a great way to see the stunning views across Bredon Hill and the Overbury Community!

2 Stuart Veall, Area Manager, Syngenta: For me Open Farm Sunday is a brilliant opportunity to be in front of the public and help them to better understand the work of the whole agricultural industry and the story behind their food. Pollinators are a really important part of this story, which is why Syngenta are working with LEAF this year to find out more about these vital insects, with The Pollinator Survey. We are inviting visitors to help us record the numbers of insects visiting plants on OFS farms and the results will then be analysed by scientists from the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology. Bees are one of the pollinators we shall be asking visitors to count and I will also be taking a box of bees along with me for everyone to look at. Farms play a major role in providing valuable habitats for bumblebees and other pollinating insects, which in turn play a major role in our food production. On the tour, Jake will also help to explain other conservational plans and how the farm is increasing farm and habitat for farmland birds, including corn buntings and tree sparrows. William Fox Frontier Agriculture I am a farm trader, working for Frontier Agriculture, one of the principal sponsors for Open Farm Sunday. Frontier is the UK's leading crop inputs and grain marketing business and we work closely with farmers and grain processors across the arable supply chain. Frontier has been a supporter of Open Farm Sunday for many years and as part of our support for the campaign I shall be helping out at Overbury Farms on the 17 th June. Following a degree in agriculture, I started my career as a trader in the City, before joining Frontier 12 years ago as a farm trader. My role is to provide a link between arable farmers like Jake and consumer brands that use his grain such as Allied Mills and Molson Coors. I help farmers to market their grain competitively and processors to ensure they receive grain of the right specification and quality to match their requirements. I really love living and working in the countryside and everything that involves - such as helping out at Overbury on Open Farm Sunday and supporting some of the other open days and school visits. Organised by LEAF, Open Farm Sunday is a great chance for visitors to Overbury to find out more about some of the foods they consume every day, like the bread and beer Allied Mills and Molson Coors produce. You will also be able to see rapeseed growing in the fields, then get a closer look at the grain itself and discover how it is then used in a wide variety of foods including cooking oil. The story of our food is a fascinating one and I look forward to helping Jake and his team bring it to life on Open Farm Sunday.

3 Penelope Bossom, Overbury Farms I am the member of our family responsible for the Overbury Estate, home to Overbury Farms, which is managed by Jake Freestone. When I m asked what my job actually is, I describe myself as a Country Business Woman. This is because a key part of my role is to help drive our rural economy by managing diversified businesses (farming, property, children s nursery and IT). Aside from the nursery I also run a holiday club for the primary school children in the village and I really enjoy taking them around the farm. No two days are the same; the Estate is very much part of the local community in which a wide variety of independent businesses are based and many people work. Open Farm Sunday is an important day at Overbury and also for me. The day is a great opportunity to meet visitors and talk to them about running a successful farm. It gives them an opportunity to ask me, Jake and our team anything they like about food and farming! We need to help consumers have a better connection with their food which means farmers need to take time to listen to the public, to understand their concerns and show them what farming today is all about. But above all, we want our visitors to enjoy their day on the farm we certainly enjoy having them! Although the Estate has been in my family for over 250 years, there have been more changes to farming in the last decade, than all those in the last hundred years put together. Nowadays technology plays a vital role in precision farming and is critical to ensuring Overbury remains a profitable business. I hope that visitors to Overbury on Open Farm Sunday will gain a greater understanding of how we use a wide variety of these technologies, to produce high quality food, in a sustainable manner. Overbury Farms is a member of LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), the organisers of Open Farm Sunday and our lamb is also LEAF Marque certified further evidence of our commitment to producing good food whilst caring for the environment. Jake and I work with many different businesses and professionals on a daily basis, some of whom will also be helping out on Open Farm Sunday. Stuart Veall from Syngenta will be running the Pollinator Survey and William Fox from Frontier will also be helping with the farm tours which we are running all day. There will also be an opportunity for visitors to see some of the John Deere tractors and farm machinery we use on the farm. So do book your place and come and discover for yourself what modern farming is all about. I look forward to seeing you there!

4 - Ends For more information visit and for up-to-date campaign information, follow us on Twitter twitter.com/openfarmsunday *If you would like to visit Overbury Farms on Open Farm Sunday please visit and ensure you book your place in advance. The day is free but it does get booked up very quickly! To arrange a visit to Overbury Farms or an interview with Jake contact: David Gough Open Farm Sunday Press Office T: E: david.gough@ceres-pr.co.uk Editor s note: LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is a national charity (Registered no: ) that helps farmers produce food with care for the environment, while working with their local community The seventh annual Open Farm Sunday on 17 June 2012 provides a great opportunity for the public to truly get to know how their food is produced and how the countryside around them is cared for Visitors will be able to learn from farmers themselves how natural plant and insect species are encouraged to thrive alongside crops, they will get a close-up look at farm animals and see how the needs of wildlife are balanced with modern food production LEAF organises Open Farm Sunday and supports farmers with putting on an event that is not only enjoyable, but gives visitors a really fascinating insight into aspects of the countryside that they would not usually see or experience on an average day out LEAF supports both LEAF and non-leaf member farmers by hosting a number of workshops across the country with practical advice and tips for organising successful events. LEAF also provides free promotional support materials and an interactive online event database to register details of farmer events An increasing number of farmers are signing up to support LEAF, to demonstrate how they are integrating modern farming with environmental conservation Food carrying the LEAF Marque logo shows that it has been grown by farmers who are committed to looking after the countryside and the environment. LEAF farmers are subject to an independent LEAF Audit, designed to help them meet the change in demands placed on operations by legislation, the marketplace, community and the industry Sponsors for Open Farm Sunday 2012 include Asda, Country Life butter, Defra,Farmers Weekly, Frontier Agriculture, John Deere, LEAF Marque, Marks and Spencer, National Farmers Union, National Grid and Syngenta, plus BPEX, Dairy Co, HGCA and FarmStay UK Pollinator Survey: This is being supported by Syngenta in conjunction with CEH Syngenta s Operation Pollinator ( is an international 5 year biodiversity program to boost the number of pollinating insects on commercial farms, by creating specific habitats, tailored to local conditions and native insects. We estimate that there are well over 2,500 ha s of Operation Pollinator Habitats sown across Europe to-date, as either field margins or parts of fields to provide vital pollen and nectar sources to support pollinator species and other farmland biodiversity The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) is the UK's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in the land and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere. CEH is part of the Natural Environment Research Council, employs more than 450 people at four major sites in England, Scotland and Wales, hosts over 150 PhD students, and has an overall budget of about 35m. CEH tackles complex environmental challenges to

5 deliver practicable solutions so that future generations can benefit from a rich and healthy environment. You can follow the latest developments in CEH research via twitter and our rss news feed Keep up to date with LEAF s activities via twitter and our regular blogs at leafmarque.wordpress.com.