HUNDREDS of people are expected to head for the countryside on Sunday when farmers hold their fourth annual Open Farm Sunday.

The day is designed to let people see how farmers feed the nation and care for the landscapes the area is renowned for.

Farmers in the region are offering free, fun-packed days featuring animals, tractor and trailer rides, farm machinery displays, nature trails and children's events. Many will also hold barbecues.

Richard and Rachel Pearson, of Manor House Farm, East Appleton, near Richmond, are taking part.

They switched from dairy farming about two years ago and now have a herd of rare-breed Lincoln red cattle, which supply their Appleton beef.

Mr Pearson said: "We chose Lincoln reds because they are placid, produce quality meat and because we wanted to have rarebreed cattle. We run the herd alongside continental crosses and a bull-beef rearing unit, but we sell the Lincoln red beef directly to our customers."

Visitors will be able to sample burgers and sausages and tour the farm and fields.

Mr Pearson said: "We are passionate about educating children so that they know where their food comes from, and Open Farm Sunday is a great chance for families to come and learn more about the process."

The farm will be open from noon until 5pm. East Appleton is a mile from the A1, between Catterick Village and Hackforth.

The farm will be signposted.

Open Farm Sunday is organised by the Linking Environment And Farming group and supported by the National Farmers' Union.

Other farms taking part include Green Farm Highland Cattle at Hellifield, near Skipton, North Yorkshire; Maltby Grange, Maltby, Middlesbrough; Northside Head Farm, Middlesmoor, Harrogate; Sutton Grange, Sutton-on-the-Forest, near York; Bradley Burn, Wolsingham, County Durham; Broom House, near Witton Gilbert, County Durham; Farnless Farm, Bishop Middleham, County Durham; Houghall Farm, Houghall College, near Durham; New Moor Farm, Walworth Gate, near Darlington; and Pepperfield Farm, Dalton on Tees, near Darlington.

Two moorland estates will hold tours.

They are Spaunton Moor, near Hutton-le-Hole, North Yorkshire, which will hold short walks between 11am and 3pm, and the Yadd Moss Estate, high in the South Tyne Valley, in the North Pennines.

A full list of farms, with directions and opening times, is available at farmsunday.org