10,000 farmers wanted, no experience necessary

The National Trust has launched an innovative new scheme, My Farm at their Freedom Food approved Wimpole Farm Estate near Royston in Cambridgeshire – with the aim of reconnecting people and food. 10,000 people are needed to sign up and contribute £30 a year, entitling them to debate and vote on the key decisions to help run a working farm.

Many National Trust farms are Freedom Food accredited and this new project – which attracted some positive media coverage when it was launched last month – has been welcomed by the RSPCA, who applauded the project for engaging and educating people about the lives of farm animals, but urged caution if the public’s decisions on care for the farm animals were to conflict with their welfare needs.

My Farm is an interactive website which allows members of the public to be ‘virtual farmers’. More information is available at www.my-farm.org.uk