Once again, Mrs Anne Perchard MBE (Patron of the WJCB) and her family, opened up their St. Martin, Jersey farm to the public. Saturday 14th August was a glorious summer's day, and over 2,000 people made their way to the farm for what was probably the best ever farm open day held in Jersey.

The event is kept quite simple, and this is what attracts local people and overseas visitors to this annual event. A large team of volunteers is recruited each year, and the highlight of the day must be that the public get to see the wonderful "Ansom" Jersey herd in its working clothes, as it were. A Grand Raffle is always held, as are the perenially popular horse and van rides (a type of horse-drawn vehicle used in the olden days). Tractor and trailer rides around the farm fields and the nature trail kept families busy, and it was great to see people just rolling out a blanket on the grass and having an impromptu family picnic in the wonderful surroundings of a working farm.

Along with these activities, there were a range of selling-stalls, a car boot sale, coconut shies, a petting farm, face-painting, and a very popular straw “castle” for kids. The cow-pat competition was yet again very well supported culminating with the “crowning” of one of the marked out squares by an “Ansom” cow!

It is true to say that everyone had a marvelous day, helpers and visitors alike, all safe in the knowledge that money was being raised for a very worthwhile cause.