Farming keeps ooryieyl W
ELCOME to the first issue of Farm and Country Today.
British farmers care for more than
70% of the total land area of the United Kingdom and produce nearly 65% of the food eaten in this coun
try. Yet life on the farm is increasingly
tough. Farming is certainly chang ing. In recent years diversification has become a way of life for many families, particularly in the rural Rib-
ble Valley. ' Much of what happens on the
farm impacts on the countryside and those who use it. Conservation, access, and the
environment frequently make the headlines, and as more,and more people nationwide enjoy extended leisure time, heading out to green idylls such as ours has produced
more tourism spin-offs than ever
before. It is, of course, because of our
farmers and their forebears that the Ribble Valley's countryside is as pic turesque as it is. Fifty two weeks a year, often seven days a week, they care for the fields and valleys all around us. The 2001 Foot and Mouth epi
demic had a disastrous impact on the area, but our farming families certainly fought back. In the past few years there have
been lots of good initiatives, as farmers have, often of necessity, re examined their way of life. Rowland Fresh Milk has been just
one of the major successes in our
area.Tourism is already a growth industry, and within a few miles of Clitheroe two families have devel oped farm shops and businesses
® T O in iM which are setting the trend for pio
neering mral recovery. Richard DrinkaH'sWaddington
farm has cows and sheep - but can dle and furniture makers, holistic therapists, interior and web design ers, a sign writer and a bicycle builderl Just down the country lane, the
Barnes' family who run Bashall Hall Farm as a dairy enterprise have suc cessfully diversified into Bashall Barn, a farm shop, restaurant and outlet for local farm produce and crafts. Barns, once left to fall down or
converted to expensive homes, are now finding a new lucrative lease of life.
At GreatTodber Farm, on the out
skirts of Gisburn, a redundant barn has been converted into a language school and provides accommoda
tion and tuition to foreign language students. At Leagram Farm, Chip ping, organic cheeses are now man ufactured from within the confines of another once disused barn. And nestling under Pendle Hill, a
barn once home to goats and hors es has become two award-winning holiday apartments at Higher Gills Farm, Rimington. In the following pages, we look at the world of Ribble Valley farming,
equestrian life and countryside
issues.There is also, onpage 19, an opportunity to win a Barbour jacket from Outdoor World, Clitheroe, worth £169, and on page 20 former Lancashire NFU chairmanTom Binns tells us of his farming hopes as spring turns into summer.
Editor
Why we rural folk love the country A
s a child, 1 spent many a day wandering about behind my
grandad who had been a
farmer for many years. His social life revolved around
the farming community, and at weekends and holidays so did mine, it would seem. Listening to these straight-talk
ing country folk, I learned that they had a great philosophy to life. There was a no-nonsense
approach to problems and situa tions that life threw at
them.They would shrug it off, knuckle down and get on with it. Maybe it was because they had
been through the war, 1 thought, and nothing could ever seem that bad again to them. These are the type of people I
grew up among and the ones that I am most at home with. Farmers and people who have
lived in the country for all of their lives have a bond. They have a strong community. Everyone looks out for each other and helps each - other whenever they can.
Sure, there are a few bad eggs
among the good, but they can always be thrown out of the bas
ket I Maybe this is the reason that
people are trying to move out of the towns to the country. Just maybe they want the security and honesty that the country communi ty has to offer. There are no guidelines to sug
gest how the townie should act once moved from concrete subur bia to beautiful rural countryside. ^ Perhaps someone should tell
them that it is not some big local park in which they can do what
they like. The countryside and the people
who live in it have to be respected
- and that respect has to be earned. Conservation of the countryside
is the responsibility of all of us. It did not become beautiful all on its
own. You will not see many farmers
walking around theTrafford Centre on a Sunday afternoon. Why? Because they are too busy making the countryside look beautiful for you to drive through on a warm summer's afternoon with a picnic in the boot of your vehicle. Farmers and people who work
on the land are not paid very well. In fact, they have hardly had a pay
rise in 30 years. Those running smaller farms are
having to diversify to keep their heads above water and many farm-
ers' wives now also work outside the farm for extra income. So why do they do it? Ask anyone who has a rural job
why they put up with the bad weather, low pay and hard labour and they will respond: "For the love of it" or, maybe "Because it's the only thing I know," or "I'm working
for my dad." But you will never hear them
say: "I wish I was working in an office - somewhere, nice and dry, making lots of money." The countryside is like a drug, it
pulls you in. It is a way of life that these people have chosen and, by and large, they are happy in their work. And so I blame my late grandfa
ther for the farming blood that still flows through my veins. And also for the no-nonsense
approach I have to life - pick your self up, shrug it off and move on - and for the fact that 1 can sit and lis ten with great interest to a "gag gle" of old farmers talking about the past all day long.
GARDEN MACHINERY HYMOTO QUADS & DIRT SIKES
Advice on how to stay on the right side of the new hunting law Book guides walkers on some scenic
Valley routes
6 More farmland is open to waikers Farrier Craig D'Arcy and his 17 years "on the hoof"
8,9 Spotiight on the workings of Gisbum Auction Mart
10 HAPPA and its vital role in rescuing equines
11 Local riders who are mounting a com petitive challenge
12,13 How Young Farmers' clubs help to foster a farming spirit in the young
15 New running club is helping niral resi dents stay fit
16 Campaign to improve fann safety is given a lift
17 Irene's drive led to club being founded.. and Fred is on the gold trail
18 The need to let the countryside develop 19 Tasty recipes from the farm kitchen
20 Why farmers are facing a big new chal lenge
21 Book that puts Bowland birds in the picture
22 Bridleway now takes in the beauty of Bowland
23 Valley to host two major cycling events
We now offer a complete range of
Hymoto quads and dirt bikes for children aged 6-16.
Superb quality at fantastic prices and
quaiity dealer support. Quads from 50cc to 12500 including Rev and Go modeis pius gears with reverse.
GARDEN MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
Sales • Sen/ice * Repairs . Stockists of:-
ALKO, EFCO, OREC, CASTEL, ARIENS, HARRY, MANTIS wiOUNTFIELD & SHINDAIWA.
PUSH MOWERS * TRACTOR MOWERS . SHREDDERS • STRIMMERS
■ W a ’ S r
CHAINSAWS * HEDGE CUTTERS * PRESSURE WASHERS
SECOND HAND BARGAINS AVAILABLE
Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and
Visit A & B Mifligans Mill Shop to see a huge selection of multi fuel stoves^ See a range from; Esse* Hunter* Chamwood* Morso* Arrow* Franko Beige* poyre* .Villager*. Dunsley We also stock quality Solid Fuels *Solid Fuel Spares * Replacement Glass Doors , Fireside Furniture *Pre Packed Coal '.Logs'*.Kindling .Firelighters
For a friendly service from a long established family business drop in for a chat * ^
about your solid fuel requirements. ' ~ ' Wearealsosto^is^SSb™dE^e®^^ Dean Mill. Plumbe Street,
Bumley.Tel: 01282 450013
‘' . r M iV / .
. T The Mill Shop
p I
Monday 9am - 5pm . For amazing deals on /
wheels contact Alan Varley on 01200 445144.
Unit ID, Mill Lane, Gisburn, Near Clitheroe.
WWW.farmandlawntracksupplies.co.uk
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