A round up of news and views from the agricultural shows features in the latest edition of Dorset and Somerset Farm Radio. The internet radio station is run by rural media charity Trilith and involves volunteers in making programmes. This month, stories range from migrant workers, farm tourism and the new cattle market in Somerset to how a community saved its village pub, a children’s farm and a project aimed at identifying Dorset’s lost cider apples.
South West Beef Tom Levitt visits farmer Jilly Greed on her farm on the banks of the River Exe in Devon to find out how her plans to create a south west beef brand are developing and what are the implications for beef producers of the South West.
The GMB The increasing numbers of migrant workers on farms could act as a catalyst to develop closer relationships between farmers and the trade unions, that could mean a stronger position with, for instance, the supermarkets. Here full time regional officer for the South West of the GMB or Britain's general union, Tony Dowling, explores the idea with Geoff Pagotto after a recent Somerset branch meeting. Please also listen to ‘Polish Workers in Somerset’ on the Somerset page.
Jim Sherrin Jim Sherrin has a big birthday this year - he's reached the age where most outside of farming retire. Here, with Geoff Pagotto, he looks at his roots from a small farm in Somerset and talks of the goals he strives to achieve at his calf rearing unit near Beaminster with partner Trena Dawe.
What are DMOs and why do we have to take any notice? Tourism is being reorganised in the south west and spokesperson for Farm Stay South West, Robin Head, who farms 53 acres in Devon, explains why Farm Tourism must make its voice heard in the new county-based Destination Management Organisations or face the prospect of being sidelined and forgotten about.
‘Vox Pops’ from the Shows The voices, views, and opinions of visitors to the Farm Radio stand at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury and Melplash Shows and the Sturminster Newton Cheese Fair this summer, unexpurgated!
Dorset
Taste for Travel Taste for Travel is a partnership between the Soil Association and the Youth Hostel Association that has resulted in new business opportunities for farmers in Dorset, Somerset and other parts of the country. The aim of the Taste for Travel initiative is that local farmers and food producers will supply youth hostels with as much produce as possible, giving visitors the chance to eat locally produced food. Mike Merelie from the YHA and Kirsty Righton from the Soil Association are co-ordinating this project, and Ali Grant met up with them to find out more
Fivepenny Farm It’s been a while since Farm Radio has run anything on the developments at Fivepenny Farm so Colleen Jackson went to talk to Jyoti Fernandez to see what was new.
Organic Food Festival - Dorset The Bristol-based Soil Association held its seventh annual organic food festival in the city in September. As usual it attracted farmers, food producers - and other people with an interest in the farming and food industry - from far and wide. Ali Grant joined the record crowds to speak to a farmer from Godmanstone and staff from the Long Crichel bakery in Wimborne, who’d both brought their Dorset produce to Bristol’s waterfront. Ali also found some Somerset stalls, and you can hear more about them on the Somerset page.
Abbotsbury Children’s Farm It seems that children are becoming increasingly unaware of how and where our food comes from. For Debbie Warren, education is one of the most important aspects of her job as farm manager at the Children’s Farm at Abbotsbury just outside Weymouth. Ali Grant and her 8-year-old son visited the farm and discovered how valuable it is for children to have the chance to have such a hands-on experience. But first Ali found out how Debbie came to be in what she sees as her dream job
Melplash Show As with so many agricultural shows this year, livestock restrictions because of a foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey meant that there was no livestock at the Melplash Show. However, the crowds, and farmers, flocked to the showground between Bridport and West Bay. Farm Radio’s Margery Hookings was there and chatted with some of the visitors, including NFU communications director Anthony Gibson and Michael Fooks, whose daughter, Helen Wallbridge, was Farm Radio’s first-ever correspondent. http://www.melplashshow.co.uk/
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show There were plenty of visitors to the poultry and waterfowl marquee at Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show this year. Margery Hookings speaks to Mandy Tite, treasurer of the Dorset and Wiltshire Poultry Society, and is taken around by waterfowl judge Paul Meatyard.
New Inn, Shipton Gorge When their pub was set to close, the villagers of Shipton Gorge were not content just to watch it go the way of the village shop and the post office. Margery Hookings went down to Shipton Gorge to see how they pulled off the job of securing the future of the pub for the village.
Stevens Farm Shop Norman Barnes was born at Denhay Farm, near Bridport. His father, Edward, farmed at Buckland Newton for a number of years before the family moved to Stevens Farm at Martinstown. Norman now runs a very successful farm shop with his wife, Liz, and daughter Nicola. The diversification dawned on him one January day as he stopped to admire the view from his milking parlour – and suddenly realised others might like it too! Here he talks to Margery Hookings about how it all came about.
Dorset Cider Apple Project In 1796, Dorset had 10,000 acres of orchards. Now all we see are the remnants of a once-thriving industry. In their search of old cider apple trees, Nick Poole and Liz Copas aim to put Dorset back on the map as a quality cider-making country. Farm Radio’s Margery Hookings caught up with Nick and Liz in the Chalk and Cheese tent at this year’s Melplash Show. http://www.bridportradio.co.uk/content/view/653/147/
Norman Purchase, Part 2 Whilst cider production was common in the past in Dorset village, Norman Purchase recalls the time when Netherbury had a flourishing local cider-making industry on a larger than typical scale. This interview was recorded by James Crowden as part of the production of his book, “Dorset Man”.
Somerset
Polish Workers in Somerset Eastern European workers have become part of the rural fabric and Geoff Pagotto talks to Rafal Skarbek, from the Somerset Polish Community Association, to blow away some myths about migrant workers and learn about their concerns and aspirations.
A New Market John Burgess talks to farmer and entrepreneur Derek Mead at the site of the Rural Regional Centre that he has been creating which, amongst other things, will be taking on the marketing business of both Taunton and Highbridge markets.
Jack Coles Jack Coles and his wife Ali run a small agricultural engineering works near Rooksbridge. Caroline Wooley went to meet them to talk about the changing face of agricultural engineering over the last 20 years.
Michael Jones Michael Jones is a herd manager for a small dairy herd at Wyndhurst Farm in North Somerset and is one of the first farmers in the country to try a new method to detect cows that are bulling. Geoff Pagotto found out how the system has de-stressed Michael's working day.
White Lake Goat’s Cheese Britain is now rightfully taking its place as one of the foremost producers of fine cheeses and White Lake Cheeses are up there with the best with their creative range of both cow and goat cheeses. Farm Radio’s Colleen Jackson went to Bagborough to find the story behind this company and its products.
The Fruit Farm John Burgess pays a visit to a fruit farm in the village of his birth, Runnington, and finds out what it takes to run a successful pick-your-own fruit enterprise.
Jo Scammel The answer lies in the soil - or so the saying goes and as Geoff Pagotto found out from Jo Scamell the country's first "biological agriculturalist" that statement has a lot of money saving implications for modern farming.
The Reverend Rahilly The Reverend Philip Rahilly from the Quantock Coast Benefice started off as a farmer. Here he talks to Polly Trigoll about how he came to make such a radical change in his life and how he sees his rôle in an ever-changing rural parish.
Richard Roberts Richard Roberts gave up milking at Bussex Farm and took on a new venture which harks back to a long tradition for the part of the world he comes from - growing and processing willow. He talks here to John Burgess about this change of direction and also fills us in about the events of enormous historical significance that took place on his fields. John Burgess will be back again at Bussex Farm in future editions, to check up on the development of the willow business.
Organic Food Festival - Somerset The Bristol-based Soil Association held its seventh annual organic food festival in the city in September. As usual it attracted farmers, food producers - and other people with an interest in the farming and food industry - from far and wide. Ali Grant joined the record crowds to speak to a farmer from Pilton and the creator of Tractor Ted, who’d brought their Somerset businesses to Bristol’s waterfront.
Dick Best, The Birdman of Steart Point, Part 2 For the second time on Farm Radio, Polly Triggol takes us to meet Dick Best a retired vet living at Steart, a tiny estuary hamlet alongside the Bristol Channel. Here he pursues his lifetime involvement with birds, in particular the waterfowl that inhabit the Bridgwater Bay national nature reserve. Dick has made a special study of the Shell Duck and in recent years he’s observed changes taking place which he feels could be coincidence with climate change.
White Park Cattle After finding a peculiar white cow strolling down the lane outside her house Caroline Woolley went in search of its owner. And she found Sir Benjamin Slade.
