Farm Shop Review: "We provide a directory of your local farm shops ready for you all to leave your own reviews, telling us about the best bits, and hopefully encouraging other readers to visit your favourite!
We love our food and have no personal involvement in the retail industry. We just feel strongly that we should all try and support our local farmers/producers….Do you ever go past “farm shop” signs and wonder what it’s like, but pass right by? – call in and you’ll find all sorts of items that you wont ever find in a supermarket."
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Exposed – the con of buying 'local' food - Telegraph
Exposed – the con of buying 'local' food - Telegraph: "A nationwide investigation by trading standards officers has revealed how publicans and restauranteurs are misleading diners by incorrectly labelling food as 'local'."
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Wood fired power plants help reduce climate change | Watts Up With That?
Wood fired power plants help reduce climate change | Watts Up With That?: "scientists at The University of Manchester claim using sustainable wood and other biofuels could hold the key to lowering harmful greenhouse gases.
The reports state that using wood in UK power stations gave greenhouse gas reductions of over 84% and even higher savings of 94% were possible for heating schemes.
Prepared by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to highlight the effectiveness of using sustainable fuels rather than rely on fossil fuels, the series of reports will be presented this week at the UK’s first bio conference – BioTen – which begins in Birmingham today (Tuesday 21st)."
The reports state that using wood in UK power stations gave greenhouse gas reductions of over 84% and even higher savings of 94% were possible for heating schemes.
Prepared by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to highlight the effectiveness of using sustainable fuels rather than rely on fossil fuels, the series of reports will be presented this week at the UK’s first bio conference – BioTen – which begins in Birmingham today (Tuesday 21st)."
Friday, 24 September 2010
Quango cuts: full list of bodies under review - Telegraph
Quango cuts: full list of bodies under review - Telegraph:
Public bodies to be abolished
Agricultural Dwelling House Committees (16 bodies)
Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales
Agricultural Wages Committees (15 bodies)
British Waterways
Commission for Rural Communities
Committee on Agricultural Valuation
Farm Animal Welfare Council
Food from Britain
National Standing Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources
Regional Development Agencies (8 bodies)
Veterinary Residues Committee
Public bodies to be abolished
Agricultural Dwelling House Committees (16 bodies)
Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales
Agricultural Wages Committees (15 bodies)
British Waterways
Commission for Rural Communities
Committee on Agricultural Valuation
Farm Animal Welfare Council
Food from Britain
National Standing Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources
Regional Development Agencies (8 bodies)
Veterinary Residues Committee
Monday, 20 September 2010
FW Awards 2010: Farmworker of the Year finalist - John Adams - 9/20/2010 - Farmers Weekly
FW Awards 2010: Farmworker of the Year finalist - John Adams - 9/20/2010 - Farmers Weekly: "At 63 years, John has the stamina of someone half his age; he insists on milking at 12 hour intervals to ensure that his cows are not only healthy and happy but they are delivering the best output on Adrian White's tenanted 500-acre Iron Pear Tree farm in Rowde, Wiltshire."
Friday, 17 September 2010
The CLA Internet Charter
1. No email should be bigger than it needs to be.
If you don't know how big that is, then it is almost certainly too big.
2. Don't send unsolicited attachments.
Think about whether the recipient really needs to see a video which will slow their bandwidth.
3. Avoid signatures or logos and never add them if you don't know how to reduce the file size.
Not only does it make a letter's file size far too large, it is also poor security, as someone could merely transfer both logo and signature to a letter of their own.
4. Enclose pictures only if they are a vital illustration.
If it is so big the recipient cannot download it, that's daft. If a farmer wants to see a cow, he will probably look out of the window.
5. Don't routinely produce PDF files.
They may look nice, but can be large and are not always the best format for the job.
6. Don't "reply to all" or copy numerous people in on your routine emails. Be selective. Think of who should know.
Communicate on a need-to-know basis and would-like-know basis, but never on an I-don't-care-who-knows basis.
7. You don't have to use every effect in your design software.
The fewer fonts, colours and effects, the easier it is to read.
8. Don't include anything on your website just for the sake of it.
If you feel there is no interest in something, why is it there in the first place?
9. All current information should ideally be accessible from the homepage of your website in no more than three clicks.
It's an old rule of thumb but is often forgotten every time new software is installed.
10. If you didn't understand any of the above, insist on training.
Any training should take note of this charter.
If you don't know how big that is, then it is almost certainly too big.
2. Don't send unsolicited attachments.
Think about whether the recipient really needs to see a video which will slow their bandwidth.
3. Avoid signatures or logos and never add them if you don't know how to reduce the file size.
Not only does it make a letter's file size far too large, it is also poor security, as someone could merely transfer both logo and signature to a letter of their own.
4. Enclose pictures only if they are a vital illustration.
If it is so big the recipient cannot download it, that's daft. If a farmer wants to see a cow, he will probably look out of the window.
5. Don't routinely produce PDF files.
They may look nice, but can be large and are not always the best format for the job.
6. Don't "reply to all" or copy numerous people in on your routine emails. Be selective. Think of who should know.
Communicate on a need-to-know basis and would-like-know basis, but never on an I-don't-care-who-knows basis.
7. You don't have to use every effect in your design software.
The fewer fonts, colours and effects, the easier it is to read.
8. Don't include anything on your website just for the sake of it.
If you feel there is no interest in something, why is it there in the first place?
9. All current information should ideally be accessible from the homepage of your website in no more than three clicks.
It's an old rule of thumb but is often forgotten every time new software is installed.
10. If you didn't understand any of the above, insist on training.
Any training should take note of this charter.
CLA launches Internet Charter to fight ‘cyber congestion’ � Country Land & Business Association
News Archive � CLA launches Internet Charter to fight ‘cyber congestion’ � Country Land & Business Association: "The CLA will today (Saturday, 18 September) launch its 'Internet Charter' which aims to tackle problems caused by lack of access to broadband in rural areas.
The Charter - which will be unveiled at the Penrith & the Border Broadband Conference, hosted by Conservative MP Rory Stewart - will highlight how issues faced by rural internet users are exacerbated by oversized emails and over-designed websites from Government bodies and other large organisations with super-fastest computer networks.
�
The CLA is urging the culprits of so-called 'cyber congestion' to sign up to its Internet Charter to help cut the amount of wasted time and bandwidth for those still on dial-up connections."
The Charter - which will be unveiled at the Penrith & the Border Broadband Conference, hosted by Conservative MP Rory Stewart - will highlight how issues faced by rural internet users are exacerbated by oversized emails and over-designed websites from Government bodies and other large organisations with super-fastest computer networks.
�
The CLA is urging the culprits of so-called 'cyber congestion' to sign up to its Internet Charter to help cut the amount of wasted time and bandwidth for those still on dial-up connections."
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
BBC News - Badger cull plans for England being unveiled
BBC News - Badger cull plans for England being unveiled: "The government is to set out plans later for a badger cull in England, which it believes is necessary to curb tuberculosis in cattle.
The plan is likely to involve licensing farmers to shoot badgers on their land, and tens of thousands may be targeted.
Cattle TB cost the UK more than �100m last year."
The plan is likely to involve licensing farmers to shoot badgers on their land, and tens of thousands may be targeted.
Cattle TB cost the UK more than �100m last year."
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Mobile phone masts needed to boost economic development in the countryside - Telegraph
Mobile phone masts needed to boost economic development in the countryside - Telegraph: "At the moment mobile phone coverage in remote areas of Britain is “patchy”, leaving farmers and small businesses unable to communicate with the outside world.
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) said much of the problem is a lack of mobile phone masts in certain areas, often because it is difficult to get planning permission for aerials in scenic spots."
The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) said much of the problem is a lack of mobile phone masts in certain areas, often because it is difficult to get planning permission for aerials in scenic spots."
Monday, 6 September 2010
Don’t ignore the countryside when creating Local Enterprise Partnerships, says CLA Country Land & Business Association
News Archive � Don’t ignore the countryside when creating Local Enterprise Partnerships, says CLA � Country Land & Business Association: "CLA President William Worsley today (Monday, 6 September) urged Ministers not to ignore the rural economy when setting up the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) that are to replace Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
As Government Ministers begin to consider the various requests to create LDAs, the CLA President said: "It is vital the interests of the rural economy are taken into account in this process.
"Firstly, the LEP network must extend to rural areas. The Government says LEPs are to reflect 'functional economic areas'. Rural business is about far more than just farming, and the issues the Government wants LEPs to deal with - planning, housing, transport and infrastructure projects - are all major concerns for rural businesses. So, it is essential that LEP boundaries do not result in rural areas being left out.
"Secondly, whatever form the new network takes, it is important the interests of the rural economy are properly represented on LEP boards."
Mr Worsley added: "The rural economy must be represented at board level if an LEP covers, to a significant extent, any rural areas. In the past, the board of every RDA included at least one named director to represent rural concerns and we see no reason why the situation should be different with LEPs.
"The CLA is writing to the Ministers involved to set out its concerns on this issue."
As Government Ministers begin to consider the various requests to create LDAs, the CLA President said: "It is vital the interests of the rural economy are taken into account in this process.
"Firstly, the LEP network must extend to rural areas. The Government says LEPs are to reflect 'functional economic areas'. Rural business is about far more than just farming, and the issues the Government wants LEPs to deal with - planning, housing, transport and infrastructure projects - are all major concerns for rural businesses. So, it is essential that LEP boundaries do not result in rural areas being left out.
"Secondly, whatever form the new network takes, it is important the interests of the rural economy are properly represented on LEP boards."
Mr Worsley added: "The rural economy must be represented at board level if an LEP covers, to a significant extent, any rural areas. In the past, the board of every RDA included at least one named director to represent rural concerns and we see no reason why the situation should be different with LEPs.
"The CLA is writing to the Ministers involved to set out its concerns on this issue."
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
CPRE and English Hedgerows - the false scare story
Are we losing the fight to save our hedgerows? - Nature, Environment - The Independent
They are the living seams that have typified the British countryside for centuries. But now hedgerows are disappearing fast, and a report published tomorrow will say we are not doing enough to protect them.
Research from the Campaign to Protect Rural England has found that though hedgerows enjoy more protection than ever before, in England their overall length fell by 26,000 kilometres between 1998 and 2007. The study, England's Hedgerows: Don't Cut Them Out!, calls for current legislation to be strengthened....
Actually the research on the length of hedgerows was done by the Countryside Survey a couple of years ago and this is where the numbers come from. All the CPRE has done is gather some anecdotes and demand more powers, especially to keep the countryside all neat and tidy.
Because the story is actually that shrubby linear features in the countryside aren't in serious decline - there has been a small change in management as some hedges have not been cut as often. There have also been many new hedges planted, especially since the last figures were compiled.
The survey splits up these feature into hedges (where trees don't take their natural shape) and lines of trees etc (with or without fences) where the trees do take their natural shape.
English landowners are doing a fine job of protecting the countryside without the need of any more legislation, and if it is turning more natural rather than the CPRE preferred manicured look then I for one am happy.
The data, in kms of length, is presented below, full details in the links.
They are the living seams that have typified the British countryside for centuries. But now hedgerows are disappearing fast, and a report published tomorrow will say we are not doing enough to protect them.
Research from the Campaign to Protect Rural England has found that though hedgerows enjoy more protection than ever before, in England their overall length fell by 26,000 kilometres between 1998 and 2007. The study, England's Hedgerows: Don't Cut Them Out!, calls for current legislation to be strengthened....
Actually the research on the length of hedgerows was done by the Countryside Survey a couple of years ago and this is where the numbers come from. All the CPRE has done is gather some anecdotes and demand more powers, especially to keep the countryside all neat and tidy.
Because the story is actually that shrubby linear features in the countryside aren't in serious decline - there has been a small change in management as some hedges have not been cut as often. There have also been many new hedges planted, especially since the last figures were compiled.
The survey splits up these feature into hedges (where trees don't take their natural shape) and lines of trees etc (with or without fences) where the trees do take their natural shape.
English landowners are doing a fine job of protecting the countryside without the need of any more legislation, and if it is turning more natural rather than the CPRE preferred manicured look then I for one am happy.
The data, in kms of length, is presented below, full details in the links.
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