VIEWPOINT
county’s artisan products; the ever-popular Norbury Blue and Dirty Vicar cheeses. “They can stand in a field, point at the cows and say ‘that’s where the milk comes from that makes my cheese’. There’s something very beneficial in that,” says Neil. However, participants on the Norbury
Sources of goodness
Provenance. It’s a concept that people have become increasingly aware of when it comes to food. So, if the origins of your meal is of interest, then check out the Surrey Food and Farm Week (Sept 18-26).
The focus of this annual event – now in its nineth year – is on the journey from farm to plate. During the week, members of the public will be able to visit the farms where local Surrey produce – often sold in farm shops and farmers’ markets around the county – is made. “People do like to know where their food has come from,” says Neil Allam who, with his wife Michaela, is responsible for the making of one of the best known of the
Farm walk (Sept 21) don’t just get to stand and stare. A short walk through the fields is followed by cheese making demonstrations and hands-on involvement with the curds. Amusement and awareness aside, there are other advantages in being able to get close to the source. Visitors who buy their meat from Hugh Broom at Milton Court Farm, Dorking on Sept 24 will not only benefit financially, they will also have a say on how the meat is cut. “You can fit half a lamb into one drawer of an upright freezer,” says Hugh, “not many people realise that. Because you are buying the whole thing, it is much cheaper than buying it at the supermarket.”
Hugh, along with the other farmers involved in the week, is passionate about the importance of farming: “It’s all about promoting the importance of farming in Surrey not only in terms of food production but also in terms of conservation.” The week concludes with The Surrey County Ploughing Match and Country Fair on September 26 at Loseley Park.
www.surreycountyshow.co.uk Worry in Westcott
Uncertainty around the development of further housing in the county has continued despite the coalition government’s recent decision to remove the housing targets previously imposed upon Mole Valley District Council by the last Labour government. Villagers at Westcott Village are dismayed by the decision by Taylor Wimpey to pursue plans to build 34 new homes on Westcott Meadow, a greenfield site adjacent to Westcott Village. The Westcott Meadow Action Group has issued a press release saying; “we believe such a large housing estate will have serious implications on traffic, road safety, environmental, wildlife and ecological issues and impact on the infrastructure of the village.”
News of the proposed development has reached the national press. The Guardian’s Piece by Piece - Saving the UK’s Natural World campaign has highlighted the detrimental impacts on the bats, badgers and other species that rely on the site. However, developers Taylor Wimpey remain determined: “Our intention is, and always has been, to work closely with the local authority and residents to come up with a solution that will benefit the whole village,” said a spokesman.
www.westcottmeadow.ning.com.
www.surr e y downsmagazine.c o .uk
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