Wednesday,September24,20H Wednesday,Soptember24,2014


ow wonderful that September drifted in on a warm wind with a very welcome week or so of pleasantly mild, dry weather. Not


so great for the children, who headed back into the classroom almost the moment the sun re-emerged from its August hiding place. As regular readers will know, I


have no enthusiasm for winter, when the working day begins and^ends in the dark, and even going the short distance from back door to dustbin requires the same planning as an Arctic expedition. Still, I'm clinging onto memories of July .


as I write this, ana staying optimistic that October will bring a late blast of warmth. Someone else who will be praying that


the frost doesn't linger is Dave Thomson, whose hopes are pinned on a relatively frost-free start for nis fledgling vines. If the idea of growing grapes for commercial wine production in this part of the country strikes you as a bit offbeat, turn to pages 12 and 13 to find out why Dave thinks he can succeed, despite being advised against it. In fact, we feature strong-minded men


in this month's edition because, as well as . Dave, there is Henry Bainbridge, who is


featured as part of our ongoing support for Bowland's 50th anniversary celebrations, Henry farmed in the area for 50 years, and on pages 16 and 17 he looks back at some of tne changes he has seen, and explains how he made of a success of farming in an area classed - on the farming scale - as severely disadvantaged. While the summer might be over, there is


still plenty to look forward to in the garden, as Michelle Unsworth proves on page 8. Our competition this month (see below) also focuses on the garden, and gives you a chance to win a beautiful autumn hanging basket courtesy of Oaktrees Nurseries in Bolton by Bowland. Enjoy!


Vet column Contents


Cover picture: Michael Graham and Paul Barker examine a vine - Photo by DONNA CLIFFORD


Editor, Nicola Adam: nicola.adam@jpress.co.uk


Reporter, Joyce Bishop: Tel: 077922 19671 (office hours only). Email: joyce.bishop@lep.co.uk


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Customer Sales team: Tel: 01772 838089


Twitter: @RuralLifeNW


Advertising, Chris Leslie 01772 838008 or 07598 628820 e-mail: christopher.leslie@jpress.co.uk Sarah Turner: . Tel: 07803 506161 Email: sarah.turner@jpress.co.uk


IT'S A VINE LIFE: Left, Dave Thomson and right, Paul Barker at their vineyard near Warton, and Michael Graham who had a vineyard in Bolton-le-Sands


.Vineyard hopes12&13 Country Trails ......,...,.,...............;........ 15 Man of the land............................ 16&17 P r o p e r ty .i..;...........;....;..............;,2 0


Farming column .............:.......::.:....;.....:7 Gardening..i..................:;.......:..........V....8 Tasty recipe.,....;............;.....'...........,,....11


...... .5


% ET'S face it, when you think of 4 Lancashire food and drink, what t comes to mind? Cheese, hotpot, ^SJblack puddings? OK, so maybe these are bordering on


county sterotypes, so let's think outside the box. Goat meat, llama wool, regional beers.


Better? Yes, we have all of these, too. And soon we will add wine to that


eclectic mix. Yes, wine. In Lancashire. In north Lancashire,.on


a hillside overlooking the sea. It is not new; well, not quite. A vineyard was established in Bolton le Sands almost 10 years ago. •But it is gone now, and it never


produced wine commercially, only ever forfamily and friends. But now Dave Thomson, a man with a


plan and a set to his chin that challenges you to argue with him, has planted his first vines and is ready to plant more next year, and the year after that until... he has enough to make wine.


Commercially. It is a tall order, but when you talk to


Dave you can see the possibilities of the site, which lies just outside the village of Warton. And you can understand why he is


determined; after all, someone told him he couldn't do it... and Dave isn't at all keen on being told he can't do things. So he has set out to prove the naysayers wrong. Join him on pages 12 and 13 where he explains his reasoning.


Picture: DONNA CLIFFORDI 1 Cover story... ' 'C U j ‘ 6 RURAL LIFE I 3


Who will win the Bowland 50th Anniversary Awards?


I M


remains to be done in the Forest of Bowland 50th Anniversary Awards, which Rural Life has been supporting all summer, is to decide on the winners of the different categories. The awards aim to recog­


T


nise the outstanding work- of a wide range of projects, individuals and organisa­ tions that have contributed to conserving and enhanc­ ing the natural beauty of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since its designation in 1964. Elliott Lorimer, princi­


pal AONB officer, said: "We have always known what fantastic support the AONB receives from the people who live and work


HE nominations are in, and the shortlist has been drawn up. All that now


here, and from our visitors, but the chance to read


through the nominations for our anniversary awards has been absolutely s wonderful, and very heartening. "Given the range and


quality of the applications, choosing the nominees' who will go forward for ■ judging has been an extremely difficult decision, but we are very pleased to have such a strong shortlist reflecting the enthusiasm and commitment of all those who work to keep this area so special." The winners will be an­


nounced at a gala awards dinner scheduled for November 1. © If you would like tickets for the gala dinner go to www.forestofbowland. com/galatickets


nominees, are: '


Forest of Bowland Anniversary Awards 2014 Shortlisted Nominees -


Biodiversity Award Gavin Thomas Jennifer Newton Brennand 8c Whitendale focus group


Farming for Conservation Award New Laithe farm ’ Bell Sykes farm Cobble Hey farm Backsbottom farm


Traditional Boundaries Award Rubin Parsons Geoff Whitley Downham Estate


Sustainable Tourism Award Stirk House Hotel Cobble Hey Farm Browsholme Hall


Vibrant Community Award ■.


Slaidburri Village Archive St James' Church Community Archaeology Project - via Dalehead Parochial Church Council Clitheroe Youth Forum


•


Outstanding Contribution Award Philip Lord (Ribble Rivers Trust) Muriel Lord John Hickling Jean Fone


{ Sustainable Tourism Award LEFT: Rod Everett and Adam Sharpies with a cob oven and rocket stoves at Backsbottom farm, up for the Farming for Conservation Award


INSET ABOVE: Browsholme Hall is nominated for the


COMPETITION Win a beautiful autumn hanging basket


Oaktrees Nurseries, on Settle Road, Bolton by Bowland, which this year celebrates 25 years as a plant nursery, has kindly donated a prize for this month's Rural Life competition - a beautiful autumn hanging basket. The basket will be filled with a selection


of autumn-flowering plants, such as pansies and heathers, against a background of ivy for foliage, and will be under-planted with spring bulbs for a long-lasting display. Oaktrees owner Phil Cook said: "It will provide some welcome colour at a time


• when we're all beginning to miss the .summer;"


' All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the following


• questions: Which foliage plant will be used in the


basket? : Which anniversary is Oaktrees Nurseries


celebrating this year? What is the Latin name for common


heather? Send your answers, on a postcard or the


back of a sealed envelope, to Christopher Leslie, Hanging Basket Competition, c/o Lancashire Evening Post, Oliver's Place, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9ZA. The closing date for entries is


Wednesday, October 8,2014. Normal LEP competition rules apply. Entrants must be


aged 18 or over and the judges' decision will be final. . Please note that the prize must be


collected by the winner. Congratulations to the winner of last


month's competition for family tickets to a film at The Palace Cinema, Longridge: Mrs Joan Armer, from Bay Horse, Lancaster.


FEEL FREE TO BROWSE Beautiful dining, kitchens and bedrooms


Chairs including 'Lift and Rise' plus a fabulous range of sofas


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Unit 7 Shuttleworth Mead, Padiham, Lancashire, BB12 7NG call 01282 680442


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