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Old Rides Farm in Eastchurch welcomes guests as part of Open Farm Sunday

Pictures: Andy Payton

Emma Sheard, from the RSPB, shows Jamie Burgess, Jennifer Neaves, Sue Rickwood and Ernie Rickwood some slow worms
Emma Sheard, from the RSPB, shows Jamie Burgess, Jennifer Neaves, Sue Rickwood and Ernie Rickwood some slow worms

Hundreds of people went to learn about the world of farming at the weekend.

Old Rides in Eastchurch let residents through its gates as part of the national Open Farm Sunday scheme.

Around 1,800 visitors went along to the Burden Brothers’ business to find out more about where their food comes from and meet the cows.

There were demonstrations of sheep shearing as well as tractor and trailer rides and the Ferry House Inn ran a barbecue and hog roast.

Ella King, 3, and Lindsey King look at oil seed flowers
Ella King, 3, and Lindsey King look at oil seed flowers

Members of the Young Farmers’ Club at the Westlands School in Sittingbourne were there with piglets, rabbits and lambs and other Island farmers went to show different types of livestock.

The secretary at the farm, Charlene Odgers, said: “It was very successful. Not many farms have opened their gates to let people come in and it was a free family day out for people.

Sheep shearing at Old Rides Farm open day
Sheep shearing at Old Rides Farm open day

“We would like to say a big thank you to the Ferry House Inn – I have never seen such a queue for food – and to all the volunteers and people who came along for making it such a good day.

“We will definitely be doing it again next year.”

Money raised, which has not yet been totalled, will be going to the Kent Air Ambulance.

For more pictures, see this week's Sheerness Times Guardian.

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