A RYEDALE farm will throw open its doors to the public on Sunday to give people a glimpse of farming life.

Beadlam Grange Farm, near Helmsley, is inviting the public through the farm gate to experience the huge range of work they do.

There will be tractor and trailer tours with farmer Mark Rooke to visit the limousin cows and calves, sheep-shearing demonstrations by local farmer Stuart Robinson, butchery demonstrations by their master butcher Paul Nicholson, scarecrow-building, a farm walk to their pond and outdoor pigs and corn-milling to make flour.

There will also be the chance to learn about honey bees, a look at their miscanthus energy crop, to get up close with farm machinery, meet local young farmers and, for history buffs, the ruins of a Roman villa on site.

Angela Rooke, from the farm, said: "Our aim is for our visitors to discover the world of farming at Beadlam Grange and find out about the story behind our food and how farming affects our everyday lives.

"Entry is free, however there will be a donation bucket on entry to the tractor and trailer ride for St Catherine’s Hospice.

"We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to an informative, fun-filled day."

The day is part of Open Farm Sunday, a national initiative organised by the charity LEAF which is designed as "an opportunity for everyone, young and old, to discover at first hand what it means to be a farmer and the fabulous work they do producing our food and managing the countryside".

Since the first Open Farm Sunday in 2006, more than 1,000 farmers across the UK have opened their gates and welcomed people onto their farm for one Sunday each year.

The Beadlam Grange farmshop will be open throughout the day and lunches, light bites and drinks will be served in their Granary Tearoom.

The day will run from 10am-4pm. For more information and timings of activities, visit beadlamgrange.co.uk