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!(> Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 01282 426161 (Advertising), Burnley 01282 422331 (Classified) www.clitheroeadvertIser.co.uk 20 Clitheroe Advertiser &Tlmes, Thursday, May 28th, 2009


A pioneering family plays host to top


Northern sheep event M e N i ( 3


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by Duncan Smith i ‘


PICTURED lop left arc the Stott family of Chipping, and


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above, their herd of Friesland ewes (s)


MORE than 6,000 people and


• 250 trade stands will converge on a Chipping farm next week when a pioneering local fami­ ly hosts a prestigious biennial


event. The National Sheep Associa­


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tion (NSA) North Sheep 2009 event is being hosted by the Stott family at Laund Farm, Chipping, next Wednesday, June 3rd. The 16th event of its kind, it


will feature a series of seminars and discuffiion forums covering a range of marketing, technical and environmental issues in the sheep farming industry. There will also .be an opportu­


nity for attendees to find out more about milking sheep, when host farmer Simon Stott discusses his family’s successful diversifica­ tion enterprise, featuring 400 Friesland ewes. Unlike many hill farmers, the


Stott family - John and Chris­ tine, their son, Simon and his wife, Rachel - believe their farm­ ing business is well positioned for the future. - Not only do they implemeht a


successful traditional hill farming strategy producing quality Mule gimmer lambs, they have also diversified into a modern milk sheep enterprise, supplying-a growing health-conscious market. “We’re a sheep farming family


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■ through and through,” says John. , “We’re focused on maximising production and adding value whereever possible.” ■ The Stotts farm 500 upland


acres, their traditional sheep enterprise comprising flocks of 500 Swaledale ewes, 120 Beulah ewes and 50 pedigree Bluefaced Leicesters, plus a 400 ewe Fries­ land flock, 30 cow sucklers and 20 pedigree Simmental cows. It was John’s father, the late John Stott Snr, who pioneered the , Bluefaced Leicester in Lancashire


more than 50 years ago and start­ ed breeding what was soon to become the indomitable Mule. “ The Mule is the most out­


standing damline available, she is easy care and has potential to produce more saleable lambs per ewe finished off grass than any other breed,” said John. Over the decades, the Stotts


have focused on improving quali­ ty and today half of the family’s the income is derived from Mule gimmer lambs sold through local marts to repeat local buyers. However for John, it’s the Blue­ faced Leicester flock which takes pride of place at Laund Farm. ■ “We sell at the society sales up


and down the country and aim to be within the day’s top half of average prices,” he said. A founder breed society mem­


ber and former chairman, John is its newly elected president and at NSA North Sheep he will have the opportunity to launch its new. promotional vehicle, UK Mules. Back in the late 1990s, the


Stotts also decided to diversify and introduce a complementary milk sheep enterprise, which now supplies the other half of their income. “Simon had committed to join­


ing the business, however we agreed we needed regular income to supplement our annual harvest from breeding stock sales,” John explained. “We felt equipped. We had a


strong core farming business which is absolutely essential before launching a new enterprise. Then we used common sense and decided we would only explore new ventures which we were com­ fortable with, ones to which we could apply our technical knowhow.” ; Simon added: “At the time, a local milk sheep enterprise was


searching for more milk in an attempt to build economies of scale in what was then a relative­ ly new sector. Milking sheep . appealed to us, start up costs for a


100 sheep unit were relatively small compared with a dairy cow ' unit, so we began a lot of home­ work. . “We talked to other milk sheep


producers, travelled to Holland to look at parlours, carefully researched the market and called numerous dairies. We found sheep milk and its certain health prop­ erties was stimulating a fast growing consumer demand.” '


■ The Stotts initially invested in 100 pure Frieslandjheep and within four years grew; the enter­ prise to 400 head; yielding an average 650 litres per 10.5 month lactation. Having created that critical balance of supply and demand, in 2004 they launched Sheep Milk UK, a co-operative of producers which has since grown


-to six members located within 50 miles of Laund Farm, and this year is scheduled increase to a projected 600,000 litres. Milk is currently sold to a


number of dairies, taking up to 8,000 litres per week, with 95%


• processed mainly into cheese. Branded product, including Par- lick Fell cheese, can be found on selected supermarket shelves throughout the country. Now the family is focused on developing the Sheep Milk UK


cooperative. “We firmly believe there is real


potential to grow this element of the health conscious market by finding new members to join Sheep Milk UK, increase the vol­ ume of milk available for process­ ing and introduce new products, including yoghurt,” said Simop, adding: “Like all things in life its achieving a balance. We feel we ve, arrived at that point in our sheep farming operations, however I we’re not afraid to embrace new ideas in future to maintain a sus- j fainable family farming busi-l


■ ■ For more information on NSAI North Sheep 2009, visit:( www.northsheep.org.uk


' IIG SS/* ' I ll


■ ON Mortimers’ books at £425,000 is 14 Pendle Drive, a modern detached home on Whatley’s Calderstones Park. Offering five-bedroomed accommoda­ tion, an integral double garage and generous gardens, this is a substan­


tial property. Call 0 1 2 0 0 427331 (www.mortimers-property.co.uk).


ENJOYING wonderful views. Chapel Laithe Barn, in Ribble Lane,‘Chatburn, is a stunning


• conversion for sale with Anderton Bosonnet at ■ £670,000. It comprises a vestibule, dining hall, cloakroom, living room, bespoke dining kitchen,


'■ utility, four bedrooms, house bathroom plus en suite, double garage and large garden. Call 01200 428691 (www.anderfonbosonnet.co.uk).


’OUNTRY:, ....................................................................


Pendte PtflPMtlM


NEW to the market is Dene Cottage, Simonstone, a beautifully presented two-bedroom home for sale with Pen­ dle Hill Properties at £165,000. A tran­ quil rear garden virith great views and useful large cellar set this apart. For details call , 0 1 2 8 2 7 7 2 0 4 8 (www.pendlehillproperties.co.uk).


BROCKHALL Village is home to 2 Provence Avenue, a detached four-bedroom home. Offered by athertons at £399,950, this property has a lounge, dining room, family room, break­ fast kitchen, utility, family bathroom, en-suite master bedroom and double garage. There is a rear garden and lawned front garden. Details on 01200 420100 (www.athertons-uk.com).


^ INSIDE: Hundreds of homes for sale, property to let, new homes and properties wanted y r - r r -1


........................—-----------------^ S tlliftO f lS - ■: prQpsf'ty ciiaiid


MSW'HEiyETSONS Surveyors * Estate-Agents


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SUBSTANTIALLY reduced in price from £685,000 to £599,950, Lower Smithy Fold Barn, in Twisfon, offers more than 3,000 square feet of beautiful living accommodation. On the market with MSW Hewetsons, this attractive stonebuilt detached barn conversion enjoys splendid rural views


from its first floor living room, yet is within easy reach of the region’s major roads and business centres. . At ground floor, a reception hallway boasts many of the traditional features preserved throughout the property, including the original timber roof truss­ es, exposed stonework and stone mul-


lion windows, now fitted with hardwood double-glaz^ units. Three of the four bedrooms are on the ground floor, as is the four-piece house bathroom. A study/home office could easily be a fifth bedroom, and also on the ground floor is a utility room housing the oil- fired boiler and a large garage and


workroom with plentiful storage. At first floor level the master bedroom has a three-piece en suite', but the star of the show is the spectacular open sit­ ting room, offering great views from a 1 seating area and featuring a log burn­ ing stove on a stone hearth.The dining kitchen has a range of quality appli­


ances and lots of storage. Outside, the south-facing gardens are mostly lawned, with mature trees, a seating area and pond. A rear driveway pro- • vides parking for up to eight vehicles. For full details, or to arrange a viewing, contact the agent on 01200 424142 (www.mswhewetsons.co.uk).


Spotlight on this week's Ribble Valley hot properties fsSL. fm #


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