This year the Millennium Farm Trust combined an open day with their annual general meeting. The open day took place on Saturday 20 October amid glorious sunshine at Rede Hall Farm where the Trust has a workshop and farm. This was a rare opportunity for the public and family members of the farmworkers to tour the MFT facilities and look at the work produced by the farmworkers and their support workers.

Scarecrow making, spinning, weaving, quilting, tractor driving and even milking the cow gave guests of all ages plenty of rural activities to try.

In the MFT workshop boot jacks, birdboxes and other artefacts made by MFT farmworrkers were on display. For the farm machinery enthusiasts there were books and DVDS. Down on the field the rambling winter squashes and courgettes were waiting to be picked along with the beetroot and carrots, all evidence of the horticultural work undertaken by the farmworkers in the spring and summer.

Lunch at the Rede Village Hall was Sam's winter squash soup, David's potato and leek soup and meat pies from Barwells. The sunny warm weather continued and everyone sat outside eating their lunch - a wonderful October treat.

During the AGM the farmworkers gave informative and entertaining reports about their work. Sam keen to demonstrate the method of ear tagging for livestock used Philip (senior support worker) as an example. David shared his newly learnt experiences of fencing with the audience.

The day was a great success and demonstrated what can be achieved through hard work and commitment of many people throughout the year.

Sincere appreciation to the following people who contributed facilities and equipment for the day without which the event could not have taken place:

• Group Captain R.W. Laferte, Flt. Lt. Mick Liston, Jack and other team members from RAF Honington for the loan of two spacious tents, their delivery and erection.
• Barwells Butchers, Bury St. Edmunds, for the provision of first class steak and kidney and chicken pies for lunch. Grateful thanks for the pre-event planning help and the generous discount.
• Nigel and Chris Oakley, Rede Hall Farm, for their ongoing support and provision of car parking facilities on the day.
• Old Hall Community, East Bergholt, for provision of fresh fruit for dessert.
• Mrs Pam Reade for use of her ovens and equipment.
• SB Surveyors for loan of a tent for a dining room and Daisy the cow for exhibit.
• Alison Stewart for the donation of flowers for dining tables.

Many sincere thanks yous to the exhibitors who gave up their day to provide exhibits and participatory events for MFT and guests:

• Ben Burgess (John Deere dealership, Newmarket) for the loan of a 6830 John Deere tractor and trailer for the day.
• Rob Thirkettle for supervising the tractor driving sessions and for transporting the tractor to and from Rede Hall Farm.
• Malcolm Johnson for making and exhibiting scarecrows.
• Judith Scott for spinning, weaving, making and exhibiting scarecrows.
• Mary Jane Toulson for spinning.
• Elaine for weaving.
• Kath Hopper for patchwork and quilting.

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