HEREFORDSHIRE blackcurrant grower Jo Hilditch is to open her 650-acre site to the public to show what goes on behind the scenes in order to run a working farm.

Jo Hilditch – the owner and managing director of Whittern Farms – is one of just 35 growers trusted to grow a total of 12,000 tonnes of British blackcurrants every year that go into making Ribena.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a farm tour, a barbecue and learn how blackcurrants are harvested.

The event takes place on July 8 from 11am to 3.30pm at Whittern Farms in Lyonshall. As blackcurrants are typically harvested in August, visitors will see the blackcurrant crop at its ripest and will be invited to pick their own.

Whittern Farms spans 650 acres, employs 22 people and as well as 130 acres of blackcurrants also plays host to 75 acres of cider apple and is partly-powered by solar panels and biomass generators.

Jo Hilditch said: "Before the really hard work of harvest begins we wanted to open our doors to our local community to let them see what a real, working farm is like. Not everyone knows Ribena is packed full of British blackcurrants – let alone Herefordshire blackcurrants harvested on their doorstep so we’re delighted to welcome our neighbours and shine a light on what we do every day.

"Farming is hard, but rewarding work and on a beautifully sunny day there’s nowhere better to be than the farm, surrounded by wildlife. We’re expecting a busy day so I would encourage everyone to sign up on our event link on Ribena.co.uk/ family-fun-days to make sure they don’t miss out.”

Places on the day are limited to 100 and visitors must register at Ribena.co.uk/family-fun-days to guarantee their place.