Farmers offered fully funded training to host school farm visits

Farmers across England can now get fully funded training to help them welcome children and young people onto their farms, thanks to AHDB and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).

The training is part of the Open Your Gate campaign, which aims to deliver one million on-farm learning experiences for children and young people by 2031, increasing their understanding of food production, farming and the environment.

Applications for the School Farm Visits Support (SFVS) programme are now open, with the closing date for applications set for 5 October 2026.

Launched by AHDB and LEAF in July, Open Your Gate encourages farmers to share their stories and provide children and young people with meaningful experiences on farm.

By opening their gates, farmers can help shape the consumers, decision-makers and agricultural workforce of tomorrow by giving them a better understanding of where their food comes from.

To support this ambition, 80 farmers from across the country are being given the chance to take part in our free SFVS programme. The programme is designed to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver safe, high quality and meaningful on-farm experiences.

Participants will receive:

• Fully funded Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) training, providing practical guidance on planning and delivering safe and engaging farm visits
• Tailored one-to-one support from a LEAF Education Specialist to help tailor plans to their own farm, including visitor routes, activities, connecting with local schools and preparing for their first visit
• Practical resources and ongoing support, including access to a network of new and experienced host farmers

Farmers who have already taken part in the CEVAS course have found it transformative.

Celia Smith, who has a dairy and beef farm in Gloucestershire, said:

“It was great to meet other farmers and hear about what they are doing, as well as getting all the important information needed to open the farm up to visitors. The course leaders were inspiring.”

Elaine Smith of Lancashire Farm Education added:

“We'd done a few test sessions using holiday club children to try different activities on the farm, but I needed more confidence to make sure everything was safe and the activities were appropriate.

“The CEVAS course is the perfect place to start because it makes you think about how you would deliver those sessions. You also get a massive amount of support afterwards from LEAF and AHDB. I would recommend the CEVAS course. The training was invaluable.”

Research shows that young people want to know more about where their food comes from but that they often lack opportunities to engage directly with farming.

A major study led by LEAF involving 2,500 young people found that:

• 95% want to understand where their food comes from
• 91% believe their food choices can help tackle climate change
• More than half want to know how to enter the agri-food sector

AHDB and LEAF believe that first-hand experiences of sustainable farming can help address misconceptions, build trust in food production and inspire future careers in the sector.

Roz Reynolds, AHDB Head of Education, said:

“Every farm has a story to tell. Working with LEAF, we are providing the tools, training and support farmers need to host visits with confidence.

“By opening their gates, farmers can help children understand where their food comes from, share the pride they take in producing food and inspire the next generation through real experiences on farm.

"Open Your Gate is about creating a movement across the industry. Together, we can help deliver one million impactful farm experiences by 2031.”

Carl Edwards, LEAF Director of Communications, Engagement and Education, said:

“Open Your Gate is built around a clear national ambition – to give more children and young people the opportunity to experience farming first-hand and to give farmers the confidence and support to welcome them.

“Farmers should not feel that they have to work out how to host visits alone. Through fully funded training, practical resources and bespoke support, we can help them take that step safely and confidently.”

Achieving one million on-farm learning experiences will require a collective effort.

AHDB and LEAF are also asking organisations across food and farming to help champion the campaign and encourage farmers within their networks to take part.