EAST Cambridgeshire farms will be opening their doors to the public on Sunday as part of national Open Farm Sunday. MP Jim Paice will be joining visitors to a family-run livestock farm in Isleham as part of the campaign to allow people to see the positive

EAST Cambridgeshire farms will be opening their doors to the public on Sunday as part of national Open Farm Sunday.

MP Jim Paice will be joining visitors to a family-run livestock farm in Isleham as part of the campaign to allow people to see the positive steps farmers are taking to look after the countryside whilst producing high quality food.

Mr Paice, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will visit the farm, run by JM and MA Thompson and Sons, at 1 Fen Bank at 12.30pm.

He said: "Farm Sunday is a fantastic opportunity for people to see first hand what practical, healthy and productive farming is all about.

"The standards involved in British food production are among the highest in the world and this event is a great chance for farmers like the Thompsons to showcase that to the public."

In a statement the Thompson family said: "We are very pleased to be able to open our farm to the public on the second annual Open Farm Sunday and we hope people will be interested to hear about the way we farm and how we care for our animals.

"We have had great support from friends and other local farmers who will also be getting involved by displaying their modern day and vintage farm machinery.

"Through Farm Sunday we will have the opportunity to explain to the public what we are trying to achieve through the Environmental Stewardship Scheme and how we are working to encourage wildlife and how we look after the countryside."

Members of the public will be able to join a guided farm walk to see and hear about the farm's pigs, cattle and present day and vintage machinery. There will also be three guided nature walks to find out more about the Isleham Washes along the River Lark, its bird population and the Environmental Stewardship Scheme. The farm will open from 12 noon to 6pm.

The Shropshire family are also taking part in Open Farm Sunday and will be offering visitors farm tours, food tastings, face painting and a variety of stalls at Barway's Hainey Farm.

The farm will open its doors from 11am to 3pm to raise money for the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust