Putting your head above the parapet

[Hampton]

This weekend (until tomorrow) the Flying Scotsman runs on the Severn valley railway and we have opened one of our fields up for the public to come and see it.
We opened it up on Wednesday and the radio and Midlands today came along to interview us. Being live on the television was quite a daunting experience, and although I wouldn't really want to repeat it (I was definitely out of my comfort zone) it worked wonders for the success of our venture.
The public have turned up in droves and want to meet the farmer! They are happy to hand over their hard earned money and have thanked us for sharing our field with them (we have never opened it up before). Not only that many have praised our business skills in taking advantage of our situation and asked if we would do it again!
At least 90% have come and asked about the farm, what we grow etc and whether we sell meat direct.
I suppose the point of my post is that the public want to like us, they want to know the farmers and they are interested, it's just that as an industry, we (and I am guilty of this) don't give them the opportunity.
I thought this weekend would be all about train spotting, but I could not have been more wrong!
So my advice to ther farmers is this:
Don't be afraid to put your head above the parapet, you might be pleasantly surprised by the results!

 

[Yale]

Another important thing is to be generally courteous and keep your cool with people in general.

After all they are our customers.

A prime example (how not to do it) is how my father redirects people who are off footpaths.....

Well done for opening your fields.

 

[Hampton]

Forgot to mention, anyone who wants to come today is very welcome, Hogg roast( full pig on a spit, no cheating here), ice cream stall (proper ice cream) and loos available.

 

[Brisel]

Good luck with it

 

[kfpben]

I'm always amazed at how interested the public are in what we do.

A friend and I did a talk on farming in the local area at the request of the head of the village hall committee. We wondered if anyone would turn up- Over 80 people came along and they asked questions for over an hour afterwards!

I think opening up to visitors (to a certain extent!) is a great way of building bridges with the community and can be a useful way of preparing them for that new shed that's needs putting up etc...

It's also a great way of forcing a farm tidy up!

 

[DRC]

Can you put a link to the piece on here.

 

[Hampton]

Good luck with it

Thank you, can't complain so far

 

[Hampton]

Can you put a link to the piece on here.

Get yourself down here, I won't charge you to get in, although I will double the price of the pork bap!

 

[RushesToo]

Forgot to mention, anyone who wants to come today is very welcome, Hogg roast( full pig on a spit, no cheating here), ice cream stall (proper ice cream) and loos available.

Where?

 

[Hampton]

http://www.svr.co.uk/PacificPower_See.aspx

We are at Hampton Loade

 

[Paddington]

Well done, any marmalade sandwiches going begging ?

 

[Hampton]

Well done, any marmalade sandwiches going begging ?

Indeed, but the marmalade is made with apples rather than oranges and is more of a sauce. The sandwich will also contain pork and stuffing!

 

[Exfarmer]

Indeed, but the marmalade is made with apples rather than oranges and is more of a sauce. The sandwich will also contain pork and stuffing!

Good luck for today.
Think you may know my wife's nephew, Nick Cole possibly?

 

[Simon Chiles]

Forgot to mention, anyone who wants to come today is very welcome, Hogg roast( full pig on a spit, no cheating here), ice cream stall (proper ice cream) and loos available.

@parker , not far from you if you fancied a day out.

 

[David.]

HMRC will probably have clocked you anyway, did you charge or have a charity bucket or something? Have previously heard of their interest in people offering Silverstone/festival parking or camping etc.

 

[Hampton]

HMRC will probably have clocked you anyway, did you charge or have a charity bucket or something? Have previously heard of their interest in people offering Silverstone/festival parking or camping etc.

Don't worry, it's all in hand

 

[Doing it for the kids]

.... Or pocket

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Until I got too old, I camped at the Unicorn every year with the Welsh Scout Council Severn Cruise event. The 20th is coming up next month.