12 June 2017
Sponsors of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend are on the final countdown to the annual event which takes place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June.
Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is delivered by Ulster Farmers’ Union and is sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK and supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, NFU Mutual, ASDA and the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.
UFU Deputy President Victor Chestnutt said, “On behalf of the UFU, I would like to record our thanks to all the main sponsors for their continued financial support helping us to deliver this very worthwhile initiative. We are grateful to Bank of Ireland, The Prince’s Countryside Fund, NFU Mutual, ASDA and the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.
“We rely heavily on their support to keep our events free for members of the public to attend. We hope families will take up the opportunity for a day out on their local farm and be educated about the local food and farming industry.”
Sixteen farms including six new hosts will open their doors to the public including Castlescreen Farm near Downpatrick who specialise in producing Dexter beef, Jamisons Potatoes in Ballycastle and Drumrammer Farm, a dairy farm outside Ahoghill. Each farm event is unique with a vast range of activities on offer, including cookery demonstrations, farm walks, food tastings, interactive quizzes, meet the animals and apple orchard tours to name just a few.
On Saturday 17th June, 16 farms will be open whilst on Sunday 18th June, which is also Father’s Day, 13 farms will take part. Visitors are asked to wear appropriate clothing and footwear to the farms that they visit and to also note that dogs are not permitted. There will be a free competition at each farm to win a hamper of local food produce for one lucky family to take home with them.
Victor added, “Farms will be open whatever the weather, so come along rain or shine!”
The weekend would not be possible without the help and resources of Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, Food NI, CAFRE, DAERA and the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association.
For more information on the initiative, visit the website www.openfarmweekend.com, follow on Twitter @BOIopenfarm and like Open Farm Weekend on Facebook.
For media enquiries, contact Rebecca McConnell, Purple Rain PR, via rebecca@purple-rain.co.uk or telephone 07729965231
Sponsors of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend highlight the participating farms across Northern Ireland that are opening their farms this weekend: (l-r) Andrew Wallace, Business in the Community representing The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Richard Primrose, Bank of Ireland UK Agri Manager, Victor Chestnutt, UFU Deputy President, Joe McDonald, Asda NI Corporate Affairs Manager, Louise Millsopp, DAERA and David Cairns, NFU Mutual.
Sponsors of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend highlight the participating farms across Northern Ireland that are opening their farms this weekend: (l-r) Andrew Wallace, Business in the Community representing The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Joe McDonald, Asda NI Corporate Affairs Manager, Victor Chestnutt, UFU Deputy President, Louise Millsopp, DAERA, David Cairns, NFU Mutual and Richard Primrose, Bank of Ireland UK Agri Manager.
Victor and Margaret Turtle of Drumrammer Farm (middle), Ahoghill welcomes key Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend sponsors to their farm, Andrew Wallace, Business in the Community representing The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Joe McDonald, Asda NI Corporate Affairs Manager, Victor Chestnutt, UFU Deputy President, Louise Millsopp, DAERA, David Cairns, NFU Mutual and Richard Primrose, Bank of Ireland UK Agri Manager. Also pictured is Megan Turtle (9) and Rose Crawford (4). Victor is one of 16 farmers opening up as part of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend 2017.
List of 2017 participating farms in alphabetical order with addresses and opening times:
Acton House Farm, Acton Road, Poyntzpass, Newry, Co Armagh, BT35 6TB
Saturday 17th June 10am – 4pm
Armagh Apple Farm, Ballinteggart House, 73 Drumnasoo Road, Portadown, Co Armagh, BT62 4EX
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 10am – 5pm
Blackberry Hill Farm, Ballymacanallen Road, Gilford, Co Armagh, BT63 6AE
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 11am – 4pm
Buchanan Turkeys, Ballynian Lane, Upperlands, Maghera, Co Londonderry, BT46 5SZ
Saturday 17th June 10am – 5pm
Bullsbrook Farm, Black Bog Road, Dromore, Co Down, BT25 1EH
Saturday 17th 10am – 5pm & Sunday 18th June 2pm – 5pm
CAFRE Greenmount Campus, Abbey Farm, 71 Oldstone Road, Antrim, BT41 4SL
Saturday 17th 11am – 5pm & Sunday 18th June 12noon – 5pm
Castlescreen Farm, 32 Castlescreen Road, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 8TE
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 11am – 5pm
Dolan’s Farm, 50 Glennasheevar Road, Knockaraven, Garrison, Co Fermanagh, BT93 4AA
Saturday 17th 11am – 4pm & Sunday 18th June 12noon – 4.30pm
Donagh Cottage Farm, 15 Lisnasure Road, Donacloney, Co Down, BT66 7NN
Saturday 17th 11am – 4pm & Sunday 18th June 12noon – 4pm
Drumrammer Farm, 15 Drumrammer Road, Ahoghill, Co Antrim, BT42 2RD
Saturday 17th 11am – 4pm & Sunday 18th June 12noon – 6pm
Foote Farm, 245 Moira Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim, BT28 2LU
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 10am – 4pm
Hillstown Farm, 128 Glebe Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim, BT41 3DT
Saturday 17th June 10am – 5pm
Jamisons Potatoes, 62 Moyarget Road, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, BT54 6HL
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 11am – 5pm
Laurel View Farm, 18 Knowehead Road, Templepatrick, Co Antrim, BT39 0BX
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 12.30pm – 4.30pm
Long Meadow Farm, 87 Loughgall Road, Portadown, Co Armagh, BT62 4EG
Saturday 17th 11am – 5pm & Sunday 18th June 1pm – 5pm
Tickety-Moo Farm, Killadeas, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, BT94 1RG
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 11am – 6pm