Waste Not, Want Not St Austell Brewery

18,000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED FREE THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST Jul/Aug 2018 | Issue 73

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT ST AUSTELL BREWERY

Rural issues – what’s in your shopping basket? The facts and realities of tourism and farming Careers for women in dairy Can you support the Farming Community Network? Pig farming explained – South Yeo Farm What does being a Red Tractor Farmer mean to shoppers? Glamping – if not now, when? National Allotment Week – 13-19 August soil association | rural issues | red tractor | nfu | the national allotment society | smallholding | a farmer’s view | food & drink STOVES FOR ALL SEASONS

Whether you want to add a little extra warmth and atmosphere to your living space, or cook up a storm, al fresco, we have the perfect stove for you, your home and garden. Visit our showrooms to see a wide range of live, working models - and talk to our experienced team who can advise and help you choose and install an appliance that will bring years’ of pleasure - whatever the season.

Winkleigh 01837 680068 • www.rangemoors.co.uk • Exeter 01392 797679 • www.hearthandcook.com STOVES FOR ALL SEASONS Women in dairy Women in Dairy is an initiative from RABDF and Promar International, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and supported by AHDB Dairy, designed to bring both women already working in our industry and those keen to start together to learn, network and promote the image of dairy farming.

Our aims are: • Connect – Bringing women together from across the As part of the conference we present the Dairy Industry dairy industry. Woman of the Year Award. We invite nominations and are • Share – Exchange knowledge and experiences to develop looking for someone who demonstrates the Women in Dairy skills and confidence. values of connect, share, inspire. • Inspire – Encouraging innovative thinking and vision Details of all Women in Dairy Groups, upcoming meetings, for the future of UK dairy. the Conference and Award nomination forms can be found at www.womenindairy.co.uk Local groups Conference tickets are £50 plus VAT with discounts available Women in Dairy operates through a network of regional for Women in Dairy members, group members and students. groups which focus on a variety of topics such as calf rearing, To find out how you can join Women in Dairy or for succession, finance, disease control, animal health and more information about a career in dairy please visit promotion of dairy products. Many of the meetings take place www.womenindairy.co.uk or contact [email protected] on-farm and offer first-hand experience and information from industry experts. About the team bringing you women in dairy: The groups up and down the country are run by a group of The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers is the only dedicated local facilitators. With support from women working independent, specialist body dedicated to representing the in the industry, sponsors and the hard work of the steering interests of British dairy farmers. We are striving to ensure a group, we hope that our network of groups will continue to more viable and sustainable future for British dairy farming. expand in 2018 and beyond. RABDF is a membership organisation which provides training through farm walks, open days, courses, conferences and the Encouraging new entrants ground-breaking Dairy-Tech show. www.rabdf.co.uk We can learn a lot from those women currently working hard in Promar International is the U.K.’s largest farm, environment our industry, but we also recognise that we need to encourage and agri-food consultancy business, part of Genus Plc. Our the next generation of Women in Dairy. multi-million pound business specialises in research and Sarah Bolt, now Membership Development Manager at consultancy in the agricultural and agri-food sectors both in Kingshay, was one of the founding members of Women in Dairy the U.K. and worldwide. The nationwide team of consultants whilst working in the Knowledge Exchange team at AHDB Dairy. and business support staff offer a wide range of products and Having been born and bred in London, without any farming services to meet our customers’ needs in the U.K. and on a Whether you want to add a little extra warmth and connections, Sarah says: global basis. www.promar-international.com “You don’t have to have had experience of dairy to forge a AHDB Dairy is a levy-funded, not-for-profit organisation atmosphere to your living space, or cook up a storm, al career in the industry. Dairy farming has come a long way and working on behalf of Britain’s dairy farmers. Our remit is to fresco, we have the perfect stove for you, your home and we encourage more young women to get inspired and consider solve ‘market failure’ in the dairy industry - to tackle issues garden. Visit our showrooms to see a wide range of live, it as a positive career choice”. not currently being dealt with sufficiently to meet the needs of working models - and talk to our experienced team who Liz Haines will be talking at the Women in Dairy Conference the industry. We provide products and services to improve the can advise and help you choose and install an appliance about how she went from city publishing executive to dairy sustainability of British dairy farming. www.dairy.ahdb.org.uk that will bring years’ of pleasure - whatever the season. farmer, despite having almost no farming background and We were delighted that in May 2018, Boehringer-Ingelheim limited capital to invest, and why contract farming is a great agreed a two-year sponsorship of the national Women in Dairy way for new entrants to get a foot on the dairy business ladder. initiative. Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world, and the largest family owned Annual women in dairy conference pharmaceutical company. They are committed to creating The 2018 annual one-day conference will be held on 19th animal wellbeing through a large portfolio of advanced, September in Worcester where, in additional to Liz Haines, preventive healthcare products and services, including Bovela speakers Minette Batters, Helen Rogers and Holly Beckett will BVD vaccine, Metacam and Eprinex. be speaking on the theme ‘Breaking Barriers’. www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health/overview Winkleigh 01837 680068 • www.rangemoors.co.uk • Exeter 01392 797679 • www.hearthandcook.com 3 wv

. Business Stays . Short Breaks . Holidays . Ready for a Countryside Adventure? We’re The Perfect Choice! Exploring ancient castles, jumping aboard rattling steam trains – a countryside holiday with your family is more of an adventure than your average getaway.

Staying on a farm means you’re at the heart of the countryside. Whether you find yourself biking through a forest or across the coast, or planning your most ambitious hike yet, your next adventure is only a step away.

Farm Stay collects top end rural accommodation and lets you choose where you want to stay and how. Perhaps you’re looking for a B&B, self catering cottage or maybe diving right into the action with a traditional camping trip gets your blood pumping. The freedom of the countryside is yours for the taking.

By booking your holiday with Farm Stay, your trip is in your hands. With 100’s of options to choose from. Your next adventure is what you make of it. farmstay.co.uk

on Blu-ray™ and DVD on 23rd July

Bed & Breakfast | Self-Catering | Glamping & Camping | Static Caravans | Bunkhouses & Hostels Find your next holiday adventure with farmstay.co.uk

. Business Stays . Short Breaks . Holidays . news Ready for a Countryside Adventure? We’re The Perfect Choice! FCN launches partner logos for businesses Exploring ancient castles, jumping aboard rattling steam trains – a countryside holiday with your family is more of an adventure than your average getaway. supporting latest fundraising initiative Staying on a farm means you’re at the heart of the The Farming Community Network (FCN) is working with new site will allow us to create a repository of information countryside. Whether you find yourself biking through a thelandsman to launch its latest fundraising campaign and is that people can access quickly and easily. It will keep them forest or across the coast, or planning your most ambitious looking for industry partners to help deliver this initiative. The informed about the latest changes within agriculture and hike yet, your next adventure is only a step away. monies raised will support funding the development of a new provide further information about how FCN can support them, website. Any organisation contributing to the fundraising will whether their issue is personal or business-related.” Farm Stay collects top end rural accommodation become a recognised Partner and will have free use of a logo FCN has designed 4 partner logos that any company and lets you choose where you want to stay and how. to show their support to FCN. contributing to the cost of developing this new website will Perhaps you’re looking for a B&B, self catering cottage FCN, a voluntary organisation and charity that supports be free to use to promote their involvement in the campaign; or maybe diving right into the action with a traditional farmers and families within the farming community through across their own marketing collateral, PR and social media. camping trip gets your blood pumping. The freedom difficult times, has a network of over 400 volunteers across Sam Conway, FCN Marketing & Communications Manager, of the countryside is yours for the taking. England and Wales. Many of its volunteers are involved in explains, “As a charity, we rely solely on grants and donations By booking your holiday with Farm Stay, your trip is farming, or have close links with agriculture, and therefore in order to continue supporting the farming community. We in your hands. With 100’s of options to choose from. have a great understanding of the challenges farmers and are in an extremely competitive space so we want to ensure Your next adventure is what you make of it. farming families regularly face. that any organisation choosing to support us in delivering FCN’s National Partnerships Manager, Vicki Beers, said of help and support, benefits too. These logos will be the ‘stamp’ the campaign, “Since 1995, FCN has supported thousands of that evidences the valuable support that such organisations farmstay.co.uk people through a myriad of challenges, including financial give FCN and the wider farming community. What better way difficulties, animal disease, mental health and family for organisations drawing from the farming network to give disputes. People will continue to need our support in these something back. We hope to see a big take up of interest in areas but with Brexit looming, and the additional stresses this campaign.” and strains this will place on the farming community through the transition period and beyond, it is highly anticipated that If you would like more information about how you can demand for our services will increase considerably.” support this initiative then please call Vicki Beers Not only will FCN be on hand to support farmers whose on 01788 510866 or email [email protected] businesses are struggling as a result of Brexit, but the charity also wants the farming community to be well-informed, on Blu-ray™ and DVD resilient and embrace the forthcoming changes that lie ahead. on 23rd July “We need to provide as many opportunities as possible for people needing our help to be able to reach us – through growing our volunteer base, to providing easy access to FCN Bed & Breakfast | Self-Catering | Glamping & Camping | Static Caravans | Bunkhouses & Hostels support resources. People often struggle with problems long before they reach out for help. Our website needs to give them access to as much information, as quickly as they need Find your next holiday adventure with farmstay.co.uk it, throughout the stages of their journey to seeking help. The

© 2018 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., 2.0 Entertainment Financing, LLC and MRC II. Distribution Company L.P. All Rights Reserved. PETER RABBIT and all associated characters ™ & © Frederick Warne & Co Limited. 5 News in brief Anyone growing heritage wheat in Devon? The Artisan Bakery School in Sparkwell, Devon, is looking for local growers of heritage wheat for our course, Baking with Ancient and Heritage Grain Flours. ‘Orange Devon’ was one of the last landrace wheats to be grown in England, and we’d love to see what it tastes like!

Call Penny or Dragan 01752 837718. www.theartisanbakeryschool.com

Crackdown on organised crime vital to tackling fly-tipping in countryside, says CLA. Defra secretary Michael Gove has announced a three-month review Development kitchen to strengthen the Government’s approach to tackling fly-tipping in England. The CLA which represents opens for business landowners, farmers and rural businesses has welcomed the call A brand new high-spec development kitchen, located at the rural enterprise for evidence launched to find new centre at The Royal Bath & West Showground, is now open for business. ways to crackdown on organised The south west is recognised as home to some of the country’s best food crime in the waste sector. and drink brands and as the nation’s appetite for artisan food and drink increases The Royal Bath & West Society designed Ethical bank Triodos Bank , and built the facility to support provided financial support for the fledgling and start-up food and Riverford employee ownership drink businesses. The kitchen scheme. £5million of lending helped provides the perfect opportunity the transition to go ahead and to take for small producers to grow and the leading organic veg box company increase productivity, without into a staff ownership model. the need to invest in their own purpose built premises. Visit www.riverford.co.uk/ The highly-spec’d kitchen is employee-ownership available for hire, full or half day, and charges a competitive fee for the use of the space. With more than 8m² of worktop Our Must Attend Event: preparation area, a six-hob burner The Yeovil Show 14-15 July 2018 oven, griddle and fryer with an Join us for beautiful animals, additional combination oven and a gorgeous local food and drink, plenty fast-multi-cycle dishwasher, two of shopping, heart stopping displays, refrigeration units and a freezer music and much more. unit, the facility provides a cost effective and flexible work space. Further information about the show and to purchase tickets visit To find out more about using this high tech development kitchen you can www.yeovilshow.org contact: Emma Corr on 01749 822212 or email [email protected]

6 news Exeter healthcare company launches online service CLH Group Ltd based in Exeter is due to launch its Direct “We are one of the largest independent healthcare suppliers product service to the general public. The company has been in the south of England and we offer quality products at value supplying healthcare products for the elderly, to the healthcare for money – we buy in bulk and pass those savings down the sector for over 40 years and will launch its direct business line to the customer.” Said Jason which will enable customers to buy products directly from CLH Healthcare’s steady growth over the past 40 years the website. has been based on the foundation of strong business ethics, Jason Whitbourn, Head of IT, Sourcing & Procurement said, integrity, trust, and building long-term relationships “More and more people are choosing to live at home rather with customers. than move in to a care home or sheltered housing and CLH is Jason went on to say, “95% of orders being delivered by perfectly positioned to support that independence by providing our own fleet of vehicles our customers can be reassured a direct order and delivery service. Our service will support those that the person making their delivery is trusted and reliable – living in towns and cities and those living in rural and remote they often become a familiar, friendly face to our customers. areas where access to public services and transport We are looking forward to launching this new service and is sometimes restricted.” supporting more of our older population choosing to remain This new service will enable the regions older population, in their own homes” living at home, their carers or domiciliary care providers to access an extensive range of healthcare products online Website: clhgroup.co.uk and receive delivery direct to their door. Tel: 01392 823233 A day in a reclamation yard to help Gurkha veterans? A Somerset reclamation yard may not be the first place which springs to mind for Nepalese curry and music, but that’s changing thanks to an unusual fundraising event taking place this summer to support The Gurkha Welfare Trust. People can support Gurkha veterans and widows in Nepal by spending Saturday 14 July 2018 rummaging for treasure at Wells Reclamation Yard and find out more about the brave Gurkhas who’ve fought for Britain for more than 200 years. The Gurkha Welfare Trust (Western Branch) are hosting the Gurkha Bhela (Gathering) to raise much needed funds for the missiles, antiques and everything in between to explore, so charity’s vital work in Nepal. it’s a great setting for a family day out. Participants will get the chance to watch performances “The Gurkha story is a brilliant one to tell. These men really from an acclaimed Gurkha Piper, meet and chat to Gurkha are the bravest of the brave and it’s an honour to support soldiers and hear a talk about Gurkhas from Brigadier Bruce them in this way” Jackman OBE MC, the third generation of his family to have In addition to the organised activities, participants will be served with Gurkhas. able to explore the yard and in their own time and have a As part of the day, guests will also receive an exceptional good look around at the things it sells which range from old al fresco 3-course traditional Gurkha Curry Lunch cooked by military and railways items to fireplaces and a category is Nigel Gifford OBE, ex-Army Catering Corps and a member of refers to simply as ‘weird’. the successful Army Everest Expedition of 1976. Commenting on the day, Brigadier Jackman said; “I’ve loved Tickets for the day cost £20 and children under 10 hosting fundraising events in and around the South West for get in free. You can buy your tickets in advance from many years now and this opportunity just seemed too good to www.gwt.org.uk/events-and-challenges or purchase miss – Wells Reclamation really is a magical place with tanks, on the day, which kicks off from 10am.

7 Distribution Supported by our Digital Partners

thelandsman aims to satisfy the appetite for information about the workings of our countryside by sharing experience, knowledge and expertise as widely as possible. From farmers and landowners to city folk and rural dwellers – we exist to connect the countryside to the city and to be the go-to resource sharing information with anyone who loves the countryside.

We share news on the role of our farmers, how they manage the land, how our food is produced, how can consumers support British producers and how to identify what is British produced. Plus, how you can grow your own, careers in the countryside and much more.

To become a digital distribution partner please email Rebecca Hacker at [email protected] Visit thelandsman.co.uk WWW.THELANDSMAN.CO.UK | THELANDSMAN | @LANDSMANLIFE Welcome! inside this issue The Glamping Show 11 Glamping: if not now, when? The summer season is upon us and it’s a great time for south west tourism. We Food & drink 13 are blessed - stunning flora and fauna, Waste not, want not: cheers to eco-friendly brews dramatic coastlines and seascapes, Soil Association 14-15 quaint villages, hills, forests, vales and moors, not to mention Organic living: how can you introduce organic at home? some of the finest food and drink producers located in the The National Allotment Society 17 region. The south west attracts millions of tourists every year What will you be doing for National Allotments Week? and overall the region makes a significant contribution to the UK economy but the land doesn’t look after itself. Red Tractor 19 Without farming, the landscape would look very different Being a Red Tractor farmer indeed, the land must be managed, animals grazed, crops A farmer’s view 20-23 grown and harvested. It must be protected and it must be Filling tanks and tummies 20-21 sustainably managed to ensure we are able to enjoy its Could you be a farmer? 23 yield for years to come. A farmer’s relationship with the Land Promotion Group 24 land is deep and respectful and their contribution in looking Turning fields into funds after it for visitors to enjoy is invaluable. As the many thousands of people descend upon our countryside and Rural issues 25-29 alongside our waterways this summer, how many will be Recent changes to permitted development rights 25 Recycling - Is it all it’s cracked up to be? 26 considering “Who looks after all of this for us to enjoy?!”. How much do you value home produced food? 27 In this issue, we meet James and Kate Small from Warren Dare to diversify 29 Farm in the Mendips. David George from the NFU talks to the family about diversification; blending farming and tourism NFU 30-31 and how much tourism contributes to the south west How tourism and farming work together economy. In a separate article the family explains how the Veterinary practice 33 farm is Red Tractor Assured and how the stamp provides Responsible use of antibiotics – Everyone’s talking about it reassurance to consumers understanding where food Smallholding 34-37 comes from and our high standards of animal welfare. Pig farming explained 34-35 Gillian Dixon from South Yeo Farm explains pig farming in Have farm will travel 37 the UK and labelling. Stewart Horne considers consumers buying habits, what we produce in this country and what Royal Welsh Show 38 we consume in this country, and why we should be buying Royal Welsh Show 23-26 July 2018 more British made produce. Devon Rural Skills Trust 39 Jamie Jensen shares his charming journey from baking Becoming a rural skills practitioner bread in Nova Scotia to opening Withies Delicatessen in Making a country living 40-41 Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, and the Soil Association gives Withies Delicatessen some great hints and tips on how everyone can take simple steps toward an organic lifestyle. Gardening 43-45 Champions of Rosemoor 43 Whatever you’re doing this summer, enjoy our countryside A guide to pest-free gardens 44-45 and look after it and most importantly, think local. Remember that every pound you spend on a day out in the countryside, SelfBuild & Design Show 47 and every British food product you buy, goes some way Building your dream home in the countryside toward keeping the countryside alive for you, and for us all. Rebecca Hacker & thelandsman team twitter.com/landsmanlife

PUBLISHED BY: Think Media (UK) Ltd | The Granary & Sawmill | Tickenham Court | Washing Pound Lane | Clevedon | North Somerset | BS21 6SB [email protected] | T. 01275 400778 | www.thelandsman.co.uk Editorial: Rebecca Hacker | Art Editor: Laurie Edwards | Production: Rachael Ellway Advertising: Sandra Hardie | [email protected] | T. 01460 55105 Disclaimer: Every effort is made to ensure accuracy of dates, event information and advertisements. thelandsman accepts no responsibility for events that might be cancelled and can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of any information or claims made by advertisers included in this magazine. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of thelandsman. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission strictly prohibited. © Copyright 2018. Think Media (UK) Ltd

9 CREATE A UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE! Find your inspiration at the Glamping Show Crown & Canopy Celtic Escapes at Noble Court

20th – 22nd September 2018 NAEC, Warwickshire REGISTER NOW TO VISIT www.theglampingshow.com

9040 TGS Ad 205x274 Landsman.indd 1 18/06/2018 09:09 the glamping show Glamping: if not now, when? by The Glamping Show Have you thought about your options for diversification? It can be difficult to know what will work best and the barriers to entry in terms of research and knowledge required may seem too great. However, now is a good time to revisit glamping and we’ll explain why.

Glamping is increasing in popularity Glamping is now a multimillion-pound industry fuelled by the modern traveller who is constantly seeking unique getaways that leave a lasting impression. The number of people choosing glamping holidays in the UK has been increasing year on year and the trend shows no sign of stopping. As a landowner you already have one of the most important assets needed to start up a successful glamp-site: an outdoor space. The key to this market is creating an experience guests CREATE A UNIQUE can’t have anywhere else. If you’re surrounded by gorgeous Travellers are currency conscious countryside and can invite visitors to experience being part of Speaking at the Royal Cornwall Show this month, CLA President your world then you have something they can’t get at home. Tim Breitmeyer said: “As Britons continue to seek out staycations and experiences in our beautiful countryside and with a fall in ATMOSPHERE! the pound, rural tourism businesses are set for a Brexit boost.” Booking site operators are reporting increased bookings from UK customers over the last year and staying in the UK no longer Find your inspiration looks like the poor cousin to a foreign getaway. Taking farms as an example, agritourism makes a feature of at the Glamping Show giving guests a ground-up view of how a farm supplies the food we eat. This is a unique experience for a family, giving a chance to reconnect with loved ones, and it works with the farm’s Crown & Canopy primary business instead of against it.

It’s not as difficult as you think There’s no right way to set up a glamping business, though there are some pitfalls you can easily avoid with a bit of guidance. A little expert advice on topics like planning, insurance and sanitation will take you a long way. You may think creating a glamp-site is out of your reach, but it doesn’t have to be a fleet of immense yurts. There are the much smaller bell tents, beautifully crafted shepherd huts, pods of all shapes and sizes and much more. Take advantage of the fact that glamping means completely different things to different Celtic Escapes at Noble Court people, by designing the experience you offer to fit the types of visitor you want to attract. 20th – 22nd You need to see for yourself what’s possible so make a date in September 2018 your diary to visit The Glamping Show (Thursday 20 to Saturday NAEC, Warwickshire 22 September). You’ll talk directly with exhibitors and hear first hand from experts who’ve done it themselves. REGISTER NOW TO VISIT Visit www.glampingshow.com for information on this year’s www.theglampingshow.com exhibitors and speakers. 11

9040 TGS Ad 205x274 Landsman.indd 1 18/06/2018 09:09

food & drink

Waste not, want not: cheers to eco-friendly brews by St Austell Brewery

At St Austell Brewery, sustainability has long been at the Through investment and innovation in the brewhouse, the heart of everything the business undertakes. The numerous business has also drastically reduced the amount of resources green initiatives pursued by the 167-year-old brewery, required to make the South West’s favourite beers. In 2011, have even recently won the company a Queen’s Award for it took 17Kwh to produce a barrel of beer. As a result of St sustainable development. Austell Brewery’s investment in renewable energy sources and The brewery has had solar panels producing energy for them monitoring of its energy usage, it now takes just 3.6Kwh. at head office since 2012. In 2016, the company went completely In the company’s pubs and hotels, staff are involved in grid free for over six months at its busy St Columb distribution initiatives to source locally and sustainably, including the hub, as well as giving back enough energy to power 250 family Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Cornwall Good Seafood Guide, while homes for a year. the full provenance of its lobster dishes is probably the freshest Thanks to head brewer Roger Ryman’s Cornish barley growing available in the UK. initiative, St Austell Brewery created a circular economy before In 2016, St Austell Brewery signed a new deal to outsource the phrase became fashionable, sourcing ingredients for its waste management to three family-run operations across the beers locally and then ensuring that the spent ingredients could South West, which brought the company much closer to reaching be used for fertilisers, farm foods and artisan bakeries. their goal of reducing landfill waste to zero. An impressive 98.5% of Brewery waste is now recycled across Devon and Cornwall. The brewery also has a dedicated team of ‘green champions’ - St Austell Brewery created a circular economy who work across the company’s operations and look out for before the phrase became fashionable any opportunities to save energy – from swapping high wattage light bulbs for LED ones to overseeing beach clean-ups. - 98.5% of St Austell Brewery waste is now Eco-friendly brews – cheers to that! recycled across Devon and Cornwall www.staustellbrewery.co.uk 13 soil association Organic living: how can you introduce organic at home? by Gemma Court, Soil Association

14 Have the benefits of organic to our environment, health and animal welfare inspired you to ‘go organic’ at home? We’ve gathered some simple tips, perfect for anyone new to organic or looking for some added inspiration to expand their organic lifestyle.

Look for the logo product has been certified: this makes looking for the logo all One of the simplest things you can do is add organic to the more important. COSMOS (Cosmetic Organic Standard) is an your shopping basket. A diversity of organic food and drink international organic standard for natural and organic beauty is available nationwide in over 8000 supermarkets and products, and the Soil Association is one of a number of bodies independent retailers, and the Soil Association logo appears on certifying to it. Where you see the Soil Association or COSMOS more than 70% of the organic products in the UK, so looking for logo you can be sure of no nano particles, no animal testing, no the logo is an easy way to start introducing organic regularly. GM, no controversial chemicals, no parabens and phthalates, Organic dairy and eggs are a great place to start, as they are and no synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances. widely available. Choices for organic fresh produce and meat are also on the rise in supermarkets; and you can find an What about clothing? increasing range of organic pantry goods, treats and drinks. The organic cotton market is on the rise! Cotton has been dubbed the world’s ‘dirtiest crop’ owing to its high use of Grow organic chemical inputs and genetic modification, but organic cotton Perhaps you have an allotment, a garden plot, or just a few is never GM and is grown without synthetic fertilisers and growing boxes on the patio or pots on a windowsill. Growing pesticides. Much like beauty, the regulation of organic labelling in your own using organic methods means you’ll be caring for the textile industry isn’t strong: so looking for a certification logo the health of your soil, supporting local pollinators and wildlife, is the best way of ensuring cotton meets organic standards. A and all while growing delicious fruit and veg. Look out for Soil Association or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) logo organic seeds and, most importantly, growing organic means means that the fibre was produced organically and processed not using pesticides. Avoiding pesticides is one of the primary to robust environmental standards. Moreover it means that reasons people buy organic produce: latest research shows that factories are adhering to strict criteria that ensure good working the number of different pesticides being applied to crops like conditions; covering important areas like working hours, wage, potatoes and onions in the UK has increased by up to 18 times child labour and discrimination. The Soil Association certifies in the past four decades. An expansion of organic farming could more than 60 textile businesses and you can go organic with cut pesticide use by as much as 98%, so you’ll be doing your bit your clothing, towels, blankets, bedding and much more. to support nature when growing organically at home. Go Organic for September Go direct Our annual month-long celebration of all things organic is not If you don’t grow your own, then an organic box scheme is a far away, and perfect timing for putting some of these tips into good alternative. Seasonal, fresh produce delivered straight practice. Getting involved in Organic September is easy: you’ll to your front door. Veg box schemes have grown hugely in find information on our website and social media channels popularity in recent years and most schemes offer a range of during September, and each year there are great promotions options for the content and frequency of your order. Moreover, throughout the month to help you try new organic products. buying straight from farm means you’re supporting producers directly. Looking for a local scheme means fewer miles for your You can find more information about organic living by visiting veg to travel, a little boost for the local economy, and peace of the Soil Association website at www.soilassociation.org mind knowing exactly where your food has come from. Local farmers markets or independent stores are another option if you want to shop outside of the supermarket. Come see the Soil Association this summer

It’s not just food… Valley Fest, Somerset, 3-5 August For many who already eat and drink organic, the next step is River Cottage Festival, Devon, 25-26 August to look at beauty products. Unlike food, the use of the term Go! Organic, London, 9-10 September ‘organic’ in the cosmetics sector doesn’t always mean that the 15 Agricultural TIMBER BUILDINGS & Show CONSTRUCTION LTD Hosts to The West of England Hound Show

Honiton ‘Where Farming Comes First’ COME VISIT OUR DISPLAY A fantastic day out CENTRE for all the family THE ARK POD For all your nd | 8am - 6pm Thursday 2 August 2018 timber buildings BOOKED SO FAR… • Agricultural • BOLDDOG LINGS FREESTYLE • • Camping MOTORCROSS TEAM • Gardens • VIPER AEROBATICS FLYING DISPLAY • …and much more! • • BBQ PICNIC SHERIDAN THE SHEEPDOG Call or email today • PUMPKIN THE PONY • TABLE for our full range of buildings. Advance Tickets just £14.50 | Gates open at 8.00am Free entry for under 16’s when accompanied by an adult Apply for Schedules Now www.landbtimberbuildings.co.uk Secretary: Marcelle Connor, Bank House | 66a High Street | Honiton | Devon | EX14 1PS t: 01884 277141 or 07511954682 | email: [email protected] www.honitonshow.co.uk Unit 4 Wrights Farm | Clyst Hydon | Cullompton | Devon | EX15 2NB 16 sponsored by natsol – the remote toilet specialists natsol.co.uk What will you be doing for National Allotments Week? 13-19 August by Di Appleyard

The campaign week is a celebration of the enduring nature of the allotment movement and emphasise the benefits allotments bring to people and the environment. Participating sites far and wide will be holding events and open days for their communities. It has been running since 2002 and this year’s theme of Living and Growing highlights the importance of growing your own food. seeds and watch a crop develop are much more likely to eat The Society would like to see everyone incorporating fruit vegetables routinely and establish healthy eating habits that and vegetable gardening in some way in to their lives. We need will last in to adulthood. to encourage the next generation of allotment holders and if The campaign week is also an opportunity to draw people’s families grow food at home with their children and schools attention to steps they can take to promote allotment growing develop kitchen gardens in their grounds they will benefit from in their town or village and help to preserve their sites for gardening together, learning a new skill and eating some tasty future generations. home grown produce. There are lots of quick growing crops that • Make sure that aspirations to create necessary new do not require a lot of space – especially salad ingredients. allotments or to protect existing allotments are mentioned Tomatoes – Gardeners Delight and Golden Sunrise are in your Local and Neighbourhood Plan. popular, tasty varieties. Plant 2 per grow bag or one in a 45cm • Get your local sites listed as Assets of Community Value pot and feed every 10 to 14 days with tomato food once the and designated as Local Green Space in your Local or fruits have set. Neighbourhood Plan, this could provide your land with Salad leaves – 2 or 3 sowings of cut and come again salad stronger and more specific protection - keep allotments in leaves can keep you going all summer. Will survive in a the public eye and lobby your councillors and MPs. semi-shady spot. • Work with Councils to encourage them to preserve and Summer Radishes - Radishes are a quick growing crop only value their allotment service – it has the potential to taking about six weeks from sowing to harvesting, another support delivery of many of their Public Health targets not crop that will thrive in a shady spot. only around nutrition but around emotional resilience and Spring onions - are quick growing and three or four sowings exercise, especially for our ageing population. spread out over the gardening season will supply enough • Aspiring plot-holders - do not be put off by the thought of to meet your needs. a long wait – sign up for a plot now; without waiting lists Peppers – both sweet and chilli peppers are best grown in allotment authorities cannot assess demand. a greenhouse as they need warm humid conditions but can • Plot-holders - join the National Allotment Society and be grown outdoors in a warm sunny spot. Feed with tomato support your regional allotment network to promote the food once the fruits have set. allotment movement. Basil – grow from seed and put on a sunny window-sill. Look out on our website for the listings for NAW events, Mint – grow in a container, keep moist and in semi-shade. last year we had 65 events listed and many more events Parsley – can be slow to germinate, can be grown in soil over the summer appeared on our National Allotments week or containers. facebook page www.facebook.com/nationalallotmentsweek/ Strawberries - grow in containers and hanging baskets, Associations will be arranging plants sales, site tours, feed and refresh the compost each spring and remove barbecues, scarecrow competitions, pop-up allotments, musical any runners. and theatrical shows and a host of other entertainment. The Gardening tasks are a wonderful opportunity for children Society is happy to help any association publicise their event, to learn, they can experience the different smells, tastes and we have free posters and a publicity guide available from textures of plants, witness the cycle of the seasons, measure [email protected]. the growth of seedlings, count the number of caterpillars and weigh the strawberry crop. Children who have planted www.nsalg.org.uk 17 WEST BAY BRIDPORT DT6 4EG visitor centre

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www.ecoangus.co.uk 01934 862642 www.ecoangus.co.uk 01934 862642 18 red tractor Being a Red Tractor farmer by Red Tractor thelandsman speaks to James Small, a beef and sheep farmer from Somerset, on why he feels it’s important to be part of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.

James Small knows the importance of having an end market for everything he does on the farm. That’s as true for the diversification ventures he has invested in – glamping, for example – as it is for his cattle and sheep business. If what you are producing isn’t what people want, it’s worthless, James believes that the Red Tractor logo on a pack is also the no matter how much care and attention you have put into it. only way that customers can guarantee that the lamb they are James runs 120 suckler cows alongside 1,400 ewes at buying has been born, farmed and then processed in Britain. Warren Farm on top of the Mendip Hills in Somerset. The Small “I would urge anyone who is out shopping, wherever they are, family has been at the farm since 1945, starting with James’s to look for the Red Tractor logo on the food they are buying. By grandfather who then passed it on to his parents, Bill and Pat. doing this you will know that you are buying something that’s It has expanded since those days but today is run as assured and British. If you can’t find that logo, perhaps you need partnership between James’s parents, James, and his uncle. to think about why it’s not being used.” They lamb about 1,400 sheep every spring which typically Looking ahead, James feels the assurance scheme has a doubles the amount of stock on the farm, leaving him nearly huge role to play as the UK prepares to exit the European Union. 3,000 animals to keep an eye on. “What we absolutely must not see is cheap imports – which “As anyone who keeps animals knows, it takes a lot of care may have been produced to lower standards than domestic and attention to make sure they are in the best condition and produce – flooding the market and displacing the high quality happy,” James said. food our farmers produce in this country,” he said. “We may have thousands of them, but we try to create the “We are rightly proud of our production methods which best environment for our sheep and cattle to grow and thrive.” are built on the pillars of animal welfare, food safety and James has been part of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme environmental protection.” for more than 10 years, meaning he will receive regular visits from an independent assessor who will look at many aspects of his livestock farming business to ensure they are being done to the best possible standards. For example, an assessor will examine what the stock is being Warren Farm fed, check that they look fit and healthy, go through records of the animal medicines that have been administered and also • The farm has 1,400 sheep ensure that any equipment used is in good, safe condition. • They are of the Beulah Speckled Face breed which “In this country farmers produce food to strict regulations, originated from the hills of Wales but by being a Red Tractor farm we want to show shoppers that • The sheep are perfectly suited to Warren Farm because the lamb they are buying has been produced to the high health they can live outdoors all year round and give birth to their and welfare standards,” he said. lambs outside too When James’s lamb appears on the shelves of food stores • They give birth to their lambs in May when the weather and supermarkets, it carries the Red Tractor logo to show that is warmer and drier it has been produced to these high standards. • The sheep can graze on the grass that covers more than “The part I play is just up to the point when it leaves the farm, 1,000 acres – about the size of 500 football pitches but when you buy a piece of lamb with the Red Tractor logo on • James uses four Border Collie dogs and a quad bike it you can be 100% confident that it’s been assured all the way to round up sheep and check on their condition. from the farm to your plate.” 19 a farmer’s view Filling tanks and tummies by Nick Green, Lye Cross Farm

20 a farmer’s view

The next month or so will see arable crops morph from a luscious green crop into a swaying sea of golden yellow in the case of cereals and the delightful beige of oilseed rape. At that point you’ll see farmers tramping around fields taking grain from the plant and testing the moisture content by biting a few grains. If they think it’s dry enough a sample will be officially moisture checked using a proper piece of kit and a decision made whether harvest should start or not. 9% moisture for oilseed rape and 15% moisture for cereals means magic day and the combine wheels start turning. Gone are the days of the farmer sat on an uncomfortable combine seat surrounded by a swirl of dust going up and down the same field for hours on end. These days, the driver is cocooned in an air conditioned cab, computer at his finger tips for monitoring every process of harvesting whilst listening to his favourite music. Fields can be gobbled up in no time and over 100 acres cut in a single day. Once the corn has been cut it is transported back to the grain store more often than not via a weighbridge to establish the yield of a particular field or per acre. If it’s a good yield no doubt it will be talked about in the pub. If ‘average’, purposes. That said, an increasing amount is being used for he probably ‘forgot to put it across the weighbridge’ if asked bio-diesel to power tractors, lorries and cars. To extract the oil what his yields were like. from the rapeseed it needs to be crushed. Once removed the In all seriousness, it’s important to know what the yield of a resultant rapeseed meal is used as animal feed, mainly for crop is so the economics of growing it can be calculated. The cattle but sometimes for pigs and poultry. input costs per acre need to be added together and divided by Once dry, peas, beans, lupins et al are known collectively the yield per acre to work out how much the crop is worth either as pulses and are a fantastic provider of protein and fibre. as feed or cash crop. They have virtually no fat which suits dieters! Pulses are used So what are the main crops used for? What are the main extensively for animal feed also as a protein provider. They have crops? In the UK there are a variety of arable crops falling the added benefit of being leguminous which means they ‘fix’ into three main categories; oilseeds such as rape and linseed; nitrogen in the soil ready for the following crop to use. pulses which include peas, beans and lupins and; cereals Finally cereals. Barley can be used in the beer brewing including wheat, barley and oats. process or malting for whisky manufacture whilst others are Starting off with the oilseeds. Oilseed rape is the third largest ideally suited for animal feed. Both have a valuable part to play source of vegetable oil in the world and used mainly for culinary in slaking the thirst of those who enjoy a drink or the pig, cow, chicken or sheep that wants something to eat. Barley is the fourth most commonly occurring grain crop in the world after maize, rice and wheat. As well as being fed to animals, wheat is used extensively for human food. Durum wheat is used to make pasta whilst ‘bread making wheat’ is ground up into flour and used to make bread, pizza bases, biscuits, cakes and a whole host of either products. Whole grains are used in cereal bars and breakfast cereals. Finally in the cereal group come oats. More often than not these are grown by farmers on contract for millers who make them into porridge and to a lesser extent in the UK oatmeal biscuits. Both are a fantastic source of energy and fibre and guaranteed to give a good start to the day. So there’s a whistle stop introduction to arable crops and harvest. Managed properly, well farmed arable crops could provide the world’s breakfast, dinner and tea, keep the world’s hunger and thirst at bay and engines running.

Nick Green MBA, Farm Operations Director Lye Cross Farm, Redhill, Bristol BS40 5RH Tel: 01934 862 320 | www.lyecrossfarm.co.uk 21 WIN A HAMPER!

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Getting your first foot on the farming ladder can be a daunting task. But forming a joint venture with an existing producer offers tremendous opportunities. We speak to Alison Teare, co-founder of farmstomarket.co.uk, to find out more.

Pairing up new entrants with older farmers can be a match made in heaven. It brings new energy to the business and enables youngsters to gain valuable experience, while allowing the older generation to gradually step back from the day-to-day jobs.

So how do you go about finding the right match? According to the Fresh Start Land Enterprise Centre, it’s important to first sit down and decide exactly what you want to achieve, and what skills you can bring to the partnership. Once you have a clear vision, you need to get the word out to find prospective partners. Speak to local land agents and farming professionals – a lot of these opportunities are found through word of mouth. The next step is to meet potential candidates, be clear about your respective needs and goals, and consider the practicalities as well as the personalities – it’s important to get on. Having picked your perfect partner, you now need to draw up an agreement to meet your respective objectives and choose a legal framework. This requires a transparent and flexible approach, and it is worth bringing in a professional adviser to facilitate the process.

Farmstomarket.co.uk is a new rural property portal, specialising in homes, farms, estates, equine and woodland with 3 acres or more. It will be officially launching this summer.

It’s important have a trial period working together before signing on the dotted line, and also to hold regular meetings between partners. Be open to change: Successful partnerships will evolve to benefit from new opportunities, ultimately creating a sustainable and profitable business for the longer term. www.farmstomarket.co.uk 23 land promotion group Turning fields into funds by Land Promotion Group

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How it works The alternatives If you have land to promote in Devon, Cornwall or Somerset, Landowners wishing to realise some value from their land, we can: traditionally either: • assess the suitability of your land for development 1. Try to sell directly to a house-building company. These • prepare a planning application at our cost companies are unlikely to buy it outright without PP in place; • improve your chances of a successful application they will more than likely create an option to buy it ONLY if • help you achieve a sale, at higher value, more quickly and when planning consent is granted. They may well ‘sit’ on But of course, the land has to be in the right location, and the land for many years until they are ready to seek PP and achieving planning permission that maximises its financial develop the land. When they do buy it from you, they are of potential requires an understanding of the market economics course seeking the lowest possible value for it. of property development, as well as technical, legal, 2. Seek planning permission directly. Seeking planning environmental and architectural knowledge. Not to mention permission is extremely costly, time-consuming and can fail deep pockets, plenty of time and lots of perseverance. without experience of the process understanding the pitfalls, We ask for no up-front payment, and there are no hidden especially for larger projects. charges either. We merely take a percentage of your land’s final sale value, but only if, and when, planning consent is granted Your interests perfectly aligned with ours and its sale is realised. Working with the Land Promotion Group, by contrast, guarantees a greater chance of a successful application, Peace of mind for you thanks to our many years’ experience of applying and achieving Embarking on a project to seek and achieve the appropriate planning permission for large development projects. planning permission and then sell the land to the developer Compared to selling directly to a developer who wants to who’ll pay the most, is a daunting process, requiring skill, pay the lowest possible value for your land, our interests are experience and not a little perseverance! perfectly aligned with yours: we have the same goal throughout Our process replaces all of this with peace of mind: the process to make your land as valuable as possible, achieve • we only take a fee if the project is successful planning permission and a sale at the highest value, at the • because we shoulder all the cost, work and risk, naturally earliest opportunity. we’ll only take on projects where we are confident of success • if PP is not achieved, there is nothing for you to pay. www.landpromotiongroup.com

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24 Recent changes to permitted development rights by Stags Many people will already be aware of the permitted Class Q before but did not proceed as they were unsure what development rights to convert agricultural buildings to do with any remaining buildings. residential dwellings. However, less may not yet have spotted In addition to the amendments to the legislation the that as of the 6th April 2018, the Government made some Government has also released changes to the accompanying exciting changes to the legislation which provides further guidance to make it clearer that many internal works, including, opportunities. The basic premise of these changes is to increase in many cases, inserting second floors is acceptable. the number of dwellings that can be created on an agricultural “It is really good to see the government making changes to the unit from 3 to 5, and to allow an increased floor area to be given legislation and guidance although there are still quite a few quirks over to residential use. Under the old wording the maximum and we would strongly advise taking professional advice early in floor area that could be given over was 460m2, now, with the the process” says Alister King-Smith of Stags Planning Services. right approach, the maximum area is 865m2. However, in order to make full use of the floor area limit, a property owner needs For further information about these changes to permitted to commit to providing a number of ‘smaller homes’, with a development rights, or for any other planning matters, ‘smaller home’ being one of no more than 100m2 in floor area. contact Stags Professional Services on 01392 439046 This increase in area may really help those who looked at to be put in touch with your local professional.

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25 rural issues Recycling - is it all it’s cracked up to be? by Dr Phillip Bratby. CPRE Devon, The Voice For Devon’s Countryside

The three Rs used to be Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic but today the three Rs are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, terms which were formulated in the order of decreasing importance. Reducing both your consumption of goods as well as the amount of packaging is, in terms of waste, the most important step towards a healthier planet. The fewer items you consume, the fewer things to throw out in the end. Combined with the fact that consuming less means leaving more of the planet’s resources untouched, makes reducing the most crucial step in the three Rs. Reusing what items you consume, along with any packaging you can use for other purposes is the second step in keeping waste from the landfill. This is a step that tends to be missed when we have disposable cans, cups, bags, mobile phones, etc. It’s too easy to buy a new container when you know that the last one was apparently recyclable. After you have reduced your consumption and reused what you could, whatever is leftover should then be recycled. The goal is to have a nearly empty recycling bin because you consumed less, reused what you could and only recycled what little you had left over. So it could be argued that providing large recycling bins with regular collection only encourages people to consume more and throw more away. What is the best method of recycling? Because of the EU What eventually happens to the recycled waste? There are Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, householders must stories that in many cases it doesn’t actually get recycled but separate their rubbish into containers which are separately instead goes to landfill or incineration. Who knows? Whatever collected. This is inefficient and time consuming. 90% of all the answer, separate collection of recyclable household waste waste is commercial and industrial, is not sorted at source appears inefficient, time consuming and a waste of resources. but is automatically sorted cheaply and efficiently by large disposal contractors using sophisticated machines at large Call: 01392 966737 waste facilities. Surely it would be better for domestic waste Visit: www.cpredevon.org.uk to be treated in the same way?

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26 rural issues How much do you value home produced food? by Stewart Horne

Think twice about what’s in your basket before you reach the till.

One of the Sunday Papers carried a report recently that in the event of a Brexit without full agreement on trade with the EU, supplies of food, medicines and fuel would mean areas like Scotland and Cornwall would have empty shelves within two weeks. This was rubbished by government but if any disruption most people don’t want to live on bread, turnips and potatoes, in the supply chain takes place it soon creates the situation creating a demand for food that is not grown in the UK. where shortages can take place. Think back to a few days of It always amazes me how much consumers say they value and snow, some of the major supermarkets took almost a month want British food yet their shopping habits don’t align with those to get their shelves fully stocked. Part of the reason being sentiments. When producers challenge the retailers why they the distribution network forms part of the stocks carried by carry so much imported product they always say it’s because the retailers - the lorries are in fact warehouses! consumer demands it, I’m sorry but that doesn’t quite ring true Our vulnerability to trade disruption is the volume of food that with me. If the goods are not on the shelf they will not be able to is imported; currently 41% of food comes from overseas the be bought - it’s chicken or egg, which came first! However, at the highest % since 1968, during the early 1980’s we produced 78% end of the day with so many demands on people’s weekly wages of food required in the UK. Only in the 1930’s did the UK produce most people opt for the cheapest product. less food. There are lots of people doing their bit to increase the sales Why has this occurred? Firstly as the number of food retailers of British food, promoting the high standard and quality of food reduced to a handful of supermarkets they needed large produced in the UK from individual producers to organisations supply volumes as they grew which is coupled with a constant like Taste of the West and the Soil Association. You only have reduction in food prices as the retailers compete for customers. to see the interest in food fairs to think there is no reason The proposed merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda (SASDA) why more home produced food cannot be sold. The internet is can add to the pressure on suppliers. Currently only 10% of increasingly being used but with busy lives taking delivery’s can household income is spent on food less than recreation and be problematic. Farmers markets take place in most towns but culture or transport! Secondly with customer taste widening often are monthly or fortnightly affairs which mean they are used as top up purchases rather than a main shop. Government is urging suppliers of food to the public sector to use more British product through initiatives like the British Food plan but progress is slow. I would like to see producers that supply through farmers markets join forces and trade 7 days a week on our high streets or out of town retail parks. By working together, they could provide an alternative outlet for local food. Yes there would be staffing costs but no more than 10-12 people standing behind their stalls at a farmers market twice a week. I do think the type of Brexit deal achieved and future trade agreements will have a big influence on how much British food is consumed. If all food met the British standards of production there is a chance for more British products, if these are reduced for imported products then current trends will continue. This story has a long way to run but if you value British food and the people that produce it think twice where it comes from before you reach the till. 27 A GREAT FUN DAYFAMILY OUT August 16th

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28 rural issues

with a new business venture by doing your research and preparing prudently from the outset. Such research extends Dare to diversify by Rural Solutions beyond the consumer and into marketing, design, planning, architecture and the whole business model. James Small, NFU SW Regional board chairman refers to Our advisers can support from concept to completion farmers and landowners identifying new opportunities and to ensure you are making the right plans for the future. creating significant revenue streams to complement their core businesses. This is welcome news, and in the same week that Tips before you start other surveys reveal a very different story, whereby one third • Know your strengths and unique attributes of businesses are wondering about the implications of Brexit • Know the competition and doing nothing and another one third think that there are too • Identify the gaps in the current market many unknowns to be able to do anything. • Do it differently and better Rural Solutions remains committed to helping rural • Understand your customers, do market research, do mystery businesses. James started by first identifying a market shopping opportunity for a glamping business and then delivering a • Are there planning restrictions on your land? service that meets consumers’ needs. It is exactly this approach • For preferred options, create a detailed profit and loss and that helps guarantee a successful outcome. cashflow forecast Fortunately our research evidences that consumers continue • If your idea holds against these elements, you can agree the to demand frequent leisure breaks in the countryside, spending design concept and correct strategy for delivery more of their disposable income on ‘experiences’ rather than • Operate, evolve, reinvest and anticipate inevitable changes on traditional retail. Additionally, pressure on time and income in consumer behaviour! has supported ‘staycations’ rather than going abroad, where exchange rates are unhelpful. Key advice: Be led by market demand, not by personal Although a terrific opportunity, the consumer is increasingly preferences. Do something that you have a passion for Rural Solutions - Landsman Advert - May - 03 PR.pdf 1 18/04/2018 15:10:21 discerning. It is fundamental to minimise the risk associated or establish an operational team that does.

29 sponsored by the cool ice box company coolicebox.com NFU - How tourism and farming work together by James Small, South West NFU Regional Board Chairman, Beef and Sheep Farmer and Campsite Owner

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One of the tremendous privileges of being a farmer is having the opportunity to enjoy some of our fantastic countryside. We are lucky enough to live up on the Mendip Hills very near the Cheddar Gorge, which boasts some of the finest views around. Back in 2011 my wife Kate and I were looking for an opportunity to diversify our farm business with an enterprise that would fit in well with our family life – Kate had just left her job as teacher and we had two small children. It seemed to make sense to start up a camping business. This part of the world is very popular with tourists and we felt there was an opportunity in the local market for a high end, glamping-style site. Glamping is basically luxury camping and is very popular with families who might want to get out into the countryside, but don’t fancy roughing it. So, we decided to take the plunge and today we have five canvas lodges and two cabins here at Warren Farm. The lodges are open from April to October, the cabins all year round. When they are all full (which is hopefully most of the time) we have up to 42 people staying with us. If it’s a wedding there can be up to 150. On the face of it, the camping business is very different to farming. They are two very different industries and two very different sectors and I can tell you that tourism is not an easy business to get into. Building and equipping a site is expensive, camping, which we don’t do at the moment. Lots of people then there were planning issues to overcome. We had to call and ask about it and lately I have been thinking it seems a learn a great deal when we were getting the business off shame to keep having to turn them down. the ground, going into things like marketing in a way that we These are uncertain times for farming. It is very important hadn’t done before. that during the Brexit debate, and as we move towards a The people coming to our farm are at the top end of the situation where farmers will get public money for providing market. They expect things to be right and that takes a lot of ‘public goods’ like environmental work, we do not lose sight of hard work. During the season we both work three full days a the fact that the primary role of farmers is to be food producers week on the camping side and then there is the farming on top rather than park keepers. of that. We have two part time staff helping as well. Somewhat But there is no doubt in my mind that, as we have shown at ironically I can’t afford to employ anyone to help with our Warren Farm, the two industries can work well alongside each 120-strong suckler herd! But despite the differences between other and long may that continue. the two worlds, what this experience has brought home to me is how strong the links are between farming and tourism. www.nfumutual.co.uk As farmers we learn to use the landscape, but to produce food rather than provide recreation. Both these activities are important of course, and many farms have diversified into • Tourism, holidays and daytrips, is worth tourism businesses, whether that’s campsites, B&Bs, guest around £10 billion a year to the south west houses, wedding venues or many other kinds of activity. economy and supports 198,000 jobs According to The Tourism Alliance the industry is worth around £5 billion a year to the region’s economy (£10 billion if • Farming manages over 70% of the UK’s you include day trippers) and supports 198,000 jobs. Farming land area* has a vital role to play in this, whether that’s by being directly involved in a tourism business or helping to maintain the • UK farmers produce over 60% of the food landscape that so many tourists come to see. that is consumed in the UK* The other thing we can do is show the people who come to stay with us what happens on a working farm. They get the • Over 272,000 people visited farms on opportunity to see the animals and find out what goes into Open Farm Sunday 2017. 18% had never running an agricultural business. As much as we can educate visited a farm before* them, sometimes our guests can help us – occasionally they will challenge us and ask why we’re doing something, and it’s *Sources: Contributions of Agriculture Final Report February 2017 Commissioned always good to be challenged. by NFU. Natural England, Defra and the Forestry Commission Access to the For the future we are considering going into ‘pitch tent’ Countryside surveys. LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2017 Sharing Successes report 31 WE COVER STOP it Naturally SMALLHOLDINGS with INSIDE AND OUT .Ruggle-it

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32 veterinary practice Responsible use of antibiotics – everyone’s talking about it by Abi Charlesworth BSc (Hons) BVetMed MRCVS PGDipVCP

What is antibiotic resistance? Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in such a way that allows them to resist the effects of antibiotics. The resistant bacteria are able to survive what would normally be considered an effective treatment, enabling them to go on to multiply, and cause further harm not only to the animal that is currently infected, but also to other animals.

Why do we need to reduce our antibiotic usage? Overuse and misuse of antibiotics promote the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Each time a course of antibiotics is administered, the sensitive bacteria are killed, whilst the resistant bacteria are left to grow and multiply. The more we use antibiotics irresponsibly, the greater the population of resistant bacteria becomes.

“The past two years has seen a 27% reduction in sales of antibiotics to treat and prevent disease in UK farm livestock, achieved across the board”

including improved colostrum management and preventative What’s the current situation? medicine control plans for infectious diseases including those It’s great to see that the beef, lamb and dairy industry are that can cause immunosuppression such as Johnes and BVD. progressing in terms of tackling antibiotic usage, in the past In addition to this, Red Tractor are recommending that at least two years a record 27% reduction in sales of antibiotics to treat one member of staff attends a training course in the correct and prevent disease in UK farm livestock was achieved across handling and administration of medicines. Whilst there are a the board. There have since been new positive and proactive number of reasons for treatment failures in animals; correct targets for each individual livestock sector set by Target Task storage, handling and administration of veterinary medicines Force, facilitated by the RUMA (responsible use of medicines in play a key role in ensuring clinical cure reducing the need for agriculture) alliance, which can be found on the RUMA website prolonged or alternative follow-up treatment. (www.ruma.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/RUMA- Most importantly, from 1st June 2018 the use of Highest Targets-Task-Force-Report-2017-FINAL.pdf) Priority Critically Important Antibiotics, for all beef, lamb and dairy Red Tractor members, must be a last resort and under What’s new in the livestock industry? the direction of a veterinary surgeon following diagnostic and In June 2018, all Red Tractor dairy, beef and lamb members sensitivity results. are required to have a written annual livestock health and Whilst this is a step in the right direction, we should really performance review undertaken by their veterinary surgeon. be aiming to apply these standards across the board as an This will aim to highlight any key health or performance industry to reduce our reliance on antibiotics. Please contact issues, as well as assessing total current on farm antibiotic your veterinary surgeon if you are concerned about the usage. The annual review will allow for tailored veterinary antibiotic usage on your farm and what you can do to make sure advice to be given to individual farms on how to use antibiotics you are using antibiotics responsibly. responsibly, without any detriment to animal welfare, through recommendations on alternative disease prevention strategies www.synergyfarmhealth.com 33 smallholding - south yeo farm

Pig farming explained by Gillian Dixon, South Yeo Farm

Have you ever wondered how your bacon and sausages are produced? And why you don’t often see herds of pigs gambolling about in the field as you drive around the Southwest?

The answer to the second question is that the soils of our region bacon. Because of this, over the decades, commercial pigs have are mostly ‘heavy’ and don’t drain quickly and, as you well been bred to be longer and lean in the middle to give as many know, we have more than our fair share of rain; the one thing of these desired cuts as possible. The remainder of the pig will pigs excel at is digging up the ground with their inquisitive and either be sold as joints, mince, diced, or made in to sausages. muscular snouts in search of worms, beetles, roots and any Once slaughtered, the carcass is hung in a refrigerated facility other tasty morsels they can find. from 1 day to a week before being butchered. The result of which is one huge muddy mess in which it is not A gilt (female pig who has not yet had a litter) is bred to a boar easy to keep large numbers of rooting animals in good health. either naturally or by artificial insemination and once pregnant, For this reason, commercial pig farming in the south west will be ‘in pig’ for three months, three weeks and three days tends to be done indoors in large purpose built buildings, while (near enough) before she gives birth (farrows) to her litter of outdoor rearing units are focussed ‘back east’ on drier more 10-14 piglets (it can be as many as 20). The piglets suckle milk free draining ground that doesn’t become damaged so quickly. from their mother and after around 2-3 weeks will start to take There are of course many small scale producers like solid food. Once weaned off their mother’s milk they are called ourselves keeping just a few pigs in a free range outdoor ‘weaners’, then as they approach the weight at which they are situation; we accept the mess for the quality of life the pigs have ready to go off for meat (around 100Kg) they become ‘fatteners’. while they are with us. The length of time it takes for a piglet to reach ‘finished’ The most popular cut of the pig is the loin (the middle bit, weight will vary by breed, but is around 5-7 months. The sow between the front and rear legs) from which come the chops or (adult female pig who has had a litter) will come in to season 34 south yeo farm - smallholding within 5-7 days after her offspring are weaned and is bred again at this time. If she conceives, she will go on to farrow as described above, if she fails to conceive, she will come into season 3 weeks later and will be bred again.

Indoor commercial pig farming We shall consider indoor commercial pig farming first: In the UK we have very high standards of animal welfare, and, unlike some countries on the continent, it is illegal to keep sows confined to stalls, instead they are kept in unrestricted housing with clean sleeping areas. The only time a sow is allowed to be confined is when she is about to or has just given birth. She is the put in to a farrowing crate, which prevents her from squashing her piglets by laying on them (they are big clumsy beasts and the little ones not always quick enough to get away when she goes to lay down). Her piglets have free access to mum and are often given a heat lamp to encourage them to sleep away from her – again to prevent them from being squashed. The piglets are weaned have four ‘growers’ of around 16 weeks running in our wood at around 25 days old and the sow bred again, so giving 2.2 with about 2 acres of undergrowth to forage in. This natural litters each year. environment gives them shade in the summer, acorns to forage Commercial sows are expected to rear 10 weaned piglets in the autumn, natural light, watery muddy wallows and things from each litter and will be bred for 6 litters on average. The of interest to keep them entertained. They are fed morning and weaned pigs will be kept in groups of a similar age and reared night on a specially formulated pelleted ration. on under close supervision to ensure no disease or fighting. In the past, many people used to have a back garden pig which They may be reared on the holding of their birth, or be moved was fed on household scraps as a way of recycling, however, on to specialist rearing and finishing units. since the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak in the UK in 2001, the feeding of any food waste that has come via a kitchen has been Outdoor commercial pig farming made illegal in an attempt to prevent the spread of disease. Sows are kept in groups in paddocks fenced with just a couple Biosecurity on pig farms is extremely high. Smallholders will of strands of electrified wire. They soon learn to stay back from often grow vegetables specifically to feed to their pigs, this is the wire and it provides the flexibility of being able to be moved acceptable, so is the feeding of overgrown cabbages etc straight to give them fresh ground. from the garden. When our pigs are ready to go, we take them to As the sows come close to their farrowing date, they are a small licensed abattoir which slaughters, hangs and butchers moved to paddocks with individual straw lined huts. They will the pigs to our requirements. nest, moving straw around with their mouths and dragging it We have our own delicious sausages, bacon and pork and sell with their feet to create a comfy bed in which to give birth. direct to customers from the farm, all of whom know they are A low barrier is put around the entrance to the hut enabling buying meat that supports rare breeds and is reared to high the sow to climb over to find food and exercise while the welfare standards. piglets are confined to base. At 25 days, the piglets are weaned and moved into long outdoor kennels with a covered Confused by the labelling? feed and sleeping area and run. As they grow, they gradually • Organic – reared to organic certification standards fill the space and once they have reached around 40Kg they • Outdoor reared – born and reared outdoors for around half are moved to indoor yards to ‘finish’. For pork to be sold in their lives UK supermarkets as ‘outdoor reared’ it must have spent a • Outdoor bred – born outdoors in straw bedded arks but minimum 40% of its life outdoors. brought indoors soon after weaning for growing and finishing As a small scale pig producer, we aim to keep our pigs outside • Free range – pigs are born and reared outdoors throughout all year round in straw bedded arks and access to pasture or their lives with permanent access to pasture woodland. We use electric fencing to contain them and give them as big a run as possible. Check the label, unless it says its free range, outdoor reared or We used to breed one of the rarer British breeds, Large bred, it probably isn’t. Blacks, but now buy in traditional breed weaners on a regular basis to rear for meat. In this way though, we can support other See www.southyeofarm.co.uk for Farmer Dixon’s upcoming breeders and try out different breeds each time. courses for aspiring new smallholders or contact them via Our favourite breeds in terms of temperament and taste are email [email protected] Twitter: @southyeoeast the Oxford Sandy and Black and the British Lop. We currently or find the Farmer Dixon facebook page. 35 Off Grid Power & Solar Battery Storage Installed domestic systems from £3000 • Micro Grid power systems for anyone off the grid • All installation sizes from Sheds to Commercial. • We carefully custom design your project for you. • Supply and install all across the South West. • UK approved installer for Victron & BYD. No Power? No problem! www.offgridsystems.co.uk | 01392 368724 | The Old School | Clyst Honiton | Exeter | EX5 2LZ

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A week-long training course covering: Keeping Poultry, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Cattle, Bees, Land Management and associated Tractors, Tools and Machinery. Sat 8th to Fri 14th September | £425/person | £830/couple Price includes tuition, home cooked lunches, refreshments & full information pack to take away. Come and learn in a friendly relaxed environment with plenty of opportunity to ask questions & handle the animals - Located in Devon.

Tel: 01837 810274 | Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @southyeoeast | www.southyeofarm.co.uk

36 smallholding - farrantshayes Have farm will travel by Emma Hillier, Farrantshayes

Emma and Jon Hillier bought Farrantshayes, a former commercial farm, in August 2016. They keep cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, two nutty spaniels and an ex racehorse. They also (somehow) hold down day jobs; Emma is a secondary school teacher and Jon is a property developer. Secondly, you have to be willing to relinquish control over the running of your holding for a while. This doesn’t always sit well ‘No man is an island.’ John Donne. with those who like things done ‘a certain way.’ Within reason, Here at Farrantshayes we are currently the custodians of you have to be willing to let that go. As long as everything is seventeen pigs, thirteen cows, seven sheep, two horses and alive and well when you return, does it really matter if the two cocker spaniels. We run this alongside our ‘day jobs’ in an wheelbarrow’s not been put back in the right place? almighty juggling act that leaves us contorting ourselves in a Thirdly, think about the time of year you go away. For us, jangle of obligations. it’s about waiting until everything that can be out at grass, is. This makes going on holiday a complex but entirely necessary Asking someone to muck out housed animals is a big ask as affair that enables us to rest and remain sane! After this horrific well as being costly if you’re paying an hourly rate. We also winter we felt we deserved a break, so we booked four nights consider what tasks actually need to be done and which ones away at a secluded B and B on the Algarve. Perfection. Many we do because it makes us feel good. people I speak to shy away from smallholding because they feel For example, when we are home, our pigs are fed morning they will never get a holiday. It’s true that getting away requires and evening. Splitting the feeds isn’t something they require - more planning, but we have enjoyed several holidays since it’s just that we like to see their fuzzy faces twice a day. While taking over Farrantshayes and with a little careful planning it we’re on hols, they’re fed once. The horses don’t have hard feed can work well. while we are away. We’ve given up poultry recently and one of Firstly, an absolute requirement is to accept that no the reasons is that letting them out in the morning and ushering smallholder is an island - you are going to need to request them back in in the evening isn’t possible during our absence and accept help from a network of people (paid and unpaid) and we aren’t prepared to invest in an automatic door opener during your absence. Our main paid ‘farm sitter’ also walks and still run the risk we will come home to find they haven’t got our dogs for us a few times a week year round, so she has in the house at night and have been eaten by Mr Fox. come to know our set up quite well. Finding a farm sitter can Ironically it’s the largest animal on the Farm (our Devon Ruby be challenging, but isn’t impossible. If you can’t find a bespoke cattle) that are the least bother for a summer farm sitter- ours farm sitter then consider ‘training one up’- equine holiday helps simply wanders down to the cow field, checks they’re all there are easier to come by and are usually comfortable with large, and still have the required number of limbs, has a cuddle with unpredictable animals. Alfie the steer and that’s that. However, it’s unpaid farm sitters that are the real heroes. Finally, having some time away from such an absorbing Our neighbour’s son comes and helps us out on the farm hobby as smallholding can be a real tonic. We find ourselves once a week; he and his family are happy to drop in and check spending time talking about what we want to do differently everything is where it should be. A young lady I tutor and her when we return; distance from the farm gives you a renewed parents have come to know our horses well, so they treat Arya sense of perspective and possibility. Also, I find I have my BEST and Ernie to a groom whilst we are away. Our tenants, sheep ideas whilst sipping a Mojito in a beachside bar, don’t you? So, farmers themselves, would certainly alert us if anything were go on. Book that flight. wrong. Having as many ‘pairs of eyes’ on the place as possible is desirable - we certainly wouldn’t feel as comfortable without Emma tweets on @farrantshayes and blogs about her the ‘team’ sending us amusing messages showing that all is experiences on www.farrantshayes.co.uk/emmys-blog. well back home. Emma is also secretary of Devon Association of Smallholders. 37 royal welsh show Royal Welsh Show 23-26 July 2018 The pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show, will be held on 23 - 26 July at the showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. Every year, the livestock classes attract thousands of entries from far and wide promising a popular and exciting four-days of competitions. Along with the fantastic livestock and great shopping, the show provides something to interest everyone through its wide range of activities including forestry, horticulture, crafts, countryside sports, food and drink and a 12-hour programme Teams. All taking time out of their busy active duties, the teams each day of exciting entertainment, attractions and displays. will be jumping into the main ring each day of the show. The big attractions in the main ring will be the incredible Returning to entertain the crowds will be the spectacular Kings Troop, Royal Horse Artillery - the Queen’s ceremonial Black Mountains Falconry, Tristar Carriage Driving, Meirion Saluting Battery of superb equestrian soldiers trained to drive a Owen and the Quack Pack, Inter Hunt Relay and much more. team of six horses pulling the First World War ‘thirteen pounder’ Reduced price e-tickets are available online now. state saluting guns at high speeds. 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38 e5450 Petersens RWAS Summer ad 125x185mm.indd 1 20/06/2018 16:37 rural skills

Becoming a rural skills practitioner by Justin Clifford, Devon Rural Skills Trust

In the summer of 2016 I attended my first training day with the Devon Rural Skills Trust. It was a dry stone walling course, from memory. Why, you may ask. Well, I’m still not too sure really, it is just something I had always wanted to have a go at. At the time I was in the Commandos and rarely got the time, or opportunity, to do it. (like the one pictured, near Ipplepen, in south Devon), how to lay After much asking around the Devon Rural Skills Trust was a Devon hedge, and about cobble-stoning. I have even made a recommended by a Cornish stonemason at, ironically, the Royal scale model cleft gate hurdle. Cornwall Show. It was this that really rekindled my passion in The programme is very much driven by the individual and some of the traditional rural skills. depends on what you want to get out of it. As well as attending The trust and its members were really enthusiastic in Saturday courses, the scheme provides 36 days of one-to-one everything they did and I kept on returning to the many training training, each with experts in their own field of work. days that were on offer, for just under two years. These have proved to be very valuable as I progress through I made it clear that I really wanted to pursue these skills, and my training, both in terms of theoretical knowledge and hands- had every intention of setting up my own small business and, in on learning. time, become an approved practitioner. You don’t have to undertake formal training to learn new I was soon approached by the chairman and training officer skills, so if this is something you would like to do on your own, and asked if I would consider joining the trust’s training scheme. or with friends, then the Devon Rural Skills Trust runs courses I needed little time to accept this kind, genuine and open offer. throughout the year. I have now been on the scheme for about seven months, during which time I have learned how to build dry-stonewalls For more information on see www.drst.org.uk 39 making a country living

Withies Delicatessen by Stephen Davy-Osborne

When Jamie and Laura Jensen were expecting their first child, the soon-to-be father made the life changing decision that his son would not grow up on a diet of junk food or factory food from the supermarket.

What started as attempts to bake his own bread and cook all and was overjoyed when I sold them all,” said Jamie, looking meals from scratch evolved into the family throwing open the back on that first outing to the market when he realised that doors to their very own delicatessen offering freshly-sourced food truly was his calling. produce at an affordable price. But the Canadian winters were too much for Welsh-born Jamie can pinpoint exactly when he realised that making the Laura to cope with year-in, year-out, and the couple agreed to decision to go back to basics and do it himself had absolutely return to the UK. The finer details of where they would put down been the right path to take. roots on this side of the Atlantic were worked out by proximity Originally hailing from Ontario, Jamie met his wife-to-be to in-laws and surf beaches. Laura at university in Kent. They each built successful careers “Somerset ticked all the boxes,” said Jamie. “It’s only an hour but as is so often the case, planning for a family made them or so away from the surf beaches, an hour to Bristol and a re-evaluate things. Keen that their children should grow up couple of hours on the train to London. There’s such an amazing ‘free range’ they gave up their steady jobs in IT and Planning array of flora and fauna there really is something for everyone to live the green life in Canada. to do here. This is the place where people want to come on Pressed by friends and family members - who no doubt holiday, but we get to live here all year round.” caught the smell of freshly baked bread wafting out of Before opening the deli, Jamie hoped to replicate his his kitchen - Jamie attended his first farmers’ market in success at the farmers’ markets with his bread as a way Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia. “I only took eight loaves with me, of setting the foundations for a successful business over here. 40 making a country living

He said: “In Canada I would go with 80 loaves of bread and have a queue of people and it would all be gone within the hour. We had a big following, but then when we came back over here and had to start from the beginning again.” He began hitting the roads with a mobile pizza oven to further his contacts and see the range of produce already on offer, which he took out onto the streets of the county, taking in community events, festivals and fairs, as well as the trusted farmers’ markets. It was then that Laura spotted the opportunity for them to set up a permanent base at the Willows & Wetlands Centre near Stoke St Gregory, and Jamie didn’t need asking twice. ‘It’s a great site. There’s loads of parking, walks, picnics, tours. The Coates family have been looking after the landscape for 200 years, they’ve built a really interesting site and have some exciting plans for the future. People want experiences and there’s always something new to do here.” With a happy family of four children aged between three and 10, as well as a collection of pigs and sheep for good measure, the summer of 2017 saw Laura and Jamie open up Withies much better than something that has been slapped together in Delicatessen at the Willows & Wetlands Centre. a warehouse or brought in on a boat from god knows where. As well as a wide range of locally-sourced cheeses, the “What most people don’t realise is how hard everyone works delicatessen fills its counter with bacon, sausages and to build their overnight success stories.” charcuterie which all feature prominently. Jamie hasn’t lost sight of the sourdough bread that set him on Having raised their own pigs as well, the deli will be offering their the course to the deli counter, and finds himself preparing the own home-grown sausages, alongside a popular range of other batches of dough each day for the loaves, which take two days locally sourced meats, such as some very popular buffalo burgers. to prove before being baked. “It’s nice to be able to stock products that your friends have Looking to the future though, Jamie is keen to become a made, there is nothing that beats local produce and that is what one-stop-shop for all things food related, giving people the we are all about,” Jamie said. “And people are really starting to options to choose the healthiest possible food available, realise the importance of buying local. at an affordable price. “We want to encourage and inspire “I think that is mainly because society has lost touch with people to cook from scratch. where their food comes from and they don’t always trust “When they come in they are often surprised by just how food being mass produced. You can buy your food from a inexpensive things are in the deli,” said Jamie, explaining his supermarket, but you don’t always know where it has come commitment to keeping prices low. “We make so much of from, and when you compare it to the food from a farmers’ our own produce here, and we buy as much direct from the market you really notice the benefits. It just tastes so producers as we can, which allows us to sell at a decent price. “We’ll also be running baking and cooking courses over the winter so make sure you visit our website and sign up for the newsletter.” Key to the rise and success of farm shops and delicatessens is the ability to share food’s provenance, Jamie believes. He said: “If you can put a story on your plate people enjoy it more because they can then take that story away and talk about it, which everyone likes doing.” Working collaboratively with friends and suppliers has been key to some of the products being stocked in the family’s deli - from Somerset tofu made with an antique apple press, to healthy lemonade and a whole new range of charcuterie about to be launched this summer. “It’s a working deli, not a sandwich shop. We produce 35-40 per cent of the products we sell ourselves,” said Jamie. “People come in and say, ‘Withies? I haven’t heard of them before, where are they based?’ And I reply - ‘right here!’”

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Polytunnels • Fruit Tunnels Buy direct from the nursery Monday to Saturday. Shade Tunnels • Polytunnel Cloches Visit us for our arboretum, fruit, ornamental and Replacement Covers hedging demonstration areas and our expert advice Full range of ornamental, fruit and hedging Polytunnels to view by appointment trees, plus select range of shrubs Consultancy from Kevin on all aspects of FREE BROCHURE - Ferryman Polytunnels planting and land management Westleigh | Morchard Road | Credition | EX17 5LS T: 01363 84948 | [email protected] Buy online or by phone, friendly advice always given T. 01884 266746 | thornhayes-nursery.co.uk www.ferrymanpolytunnels.co.uk Dulford | Cullompton | Devon | EX15 2DF 42 gardening Champions of Rosemoor by Jon Webster, Curator, RHS Garden Rosemoor

Trees are a very important part of our lives and the landscapes we all live in, yet we can easily overlook the part they play in the grand scheme of things and also take them for granted. They do so much for us apart from enhancing the natural landscape and places we live; they create shade, help soak-up pollution and provide habitats for wildlife to thrive. The green spaces in London have been described as the lungs of the city! We are fortunate here at RHS Garden Rosemoor to have a fantastic natural landscape which surrounds the garden. An important part of garden design in Japan is the use of ‘borrowed views’ which help give a sense of extra space and depth. We use the valley setting to merge into the surrounding woodlands by planting numerous trees. Something you may not have heard of is the Tree Register. This charity records trees across the UK, measuring many different species and having over 200,000 specimens in their database. At Rosemoor we have 13 trees which are given Champion status in being the tallest or broadest in the country and a further 100 or so are Devon county Champions for either height or girth.

Populus tremula ‘Erecta’ commonly called the ‘Swedish Upright Poplar’, after having been discovered in a Swedish woodland, is one of our Champions gracing the Winter garden. Another is Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Imbricata Pendula’ AGM which has huge drooping branches with thread-like foliage giving it a shaggy appearance. Another unusual tree is the almond pear Pyrus amygdaliformis in our arboretum shaped as a slanting spire and hales from the Mediterranean. Our tree collection has only been established since around the 1960’s but we have much to be proud of with many unusual trees from around the world. For me trees are something of great interest, as with all plants, the more you know about them, the stories of where they came from and who discovered them in a faraway part of the world, the more attached you become.

Visit rhs.org.uk in spring blossom Bottom: Pyrus amygdaliformis AGM, Pendula’ ‘Imbricata Right: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana AGM, ‘Erecta’ tremula Left: Populus House to the wooded slopes beyond, Rosemoor Looking across Top: Images © Sheila Dearing. 43 gardening A guide to pest-free gardens by John Hannen

44 gardening

Summer is here – time for barbecues, planting and generally just spending time in our gardens. But will you want to do this if your garden has a pest problem? Reportedly, London logs more than 100 rodent complaints every day — and although this doesn’t mean that you’re at risk, it’s worth making a few quick and simple preparations to stop potential pests from making your garden their homes. Regardless of your pest issue, this guide on protecting your garden from a pest invasion will help you solve the issue without necessarily having to seek professional help:

Make your garden uninhabitable for food-seeking pests Animals are on the lookout for food, so if your garden offers leftovers on the ground, you could be accidentally attracting pests. We all love hosting outdoor parties and having lunch outdoors when the weather allows it, but you must make sure to clean up properly afterwards if you want to avoid an influx of unwanted critters. Never leave any leftover food on your garden table furniture and make sure rubbish and refuse bags are tied tightly and placed inside a bin with the lid shut. Make sure you thoroughly mile from your home). Forget offering cheese as bait, though; clear up and clean the decking so that no sauces or dropped food sweet treats work best to lure mice! If you prefer, buy an remain which could entice rodents and other critters. ultrasonic pest repellent. Compact and discreet, these devices It’s also worth noting that rats, mice and hedgehogs eat are ideal for placing by your decking and emit high-frequency birdfeed, so make sure to opt for a hanging birdfeeder. sound waves that rodents can’t stand — and we can’t hear. Have you ever considered scent repellants as possible Take care of your wood furniture and decking humane traps? Apparently, rodents hate the smell of garlic, You want your timber decking and wooden furniture to last peppermint and hot spices — so invest in shrubs and for as long as possible. However, an infestation of woodworm spices that emit these scents to deter rats and mice. Plant a could cause it significant damage if left untreated. The common peppermint tree around the edges of your decking or sprinkle furniture beetle is usually what people mean when they say cayenne around potential entry points. Of course, there are also ‘woodworm’, but the house longhorn and deathwatch beetles plenty of commercial rat and mice repellents you can buy that are far more destructive — although thankfully rarer. will work to keep pests at bay. To prevent woodworm, place a large, waterproof sheet over your tables, chairs and wood decking, if possible. Sealing your Don’t offer unwanted animals a place to stay wood with varnish is a good shout, too. This creates a barrier We’ve covered food, but pests will also be looking for a dry and that prevents female wood-boring beetles from laying eggs in warm home for nesting — is there anywhere that offers this the pores of the wood. in your garden? How about your decked area? Pests won’t be Want to know how you can detect woodworm if an infestation able to make a home under your decking if they can’t get in to has already occurred? If you can see small holes across your begin with, so investing in extra materials to create a barrier decking and furnishings — these are usually in a cluster and is worth it! often about 1mm wide — there might be woodworm present. Your first step is to prevent pests getting under your decking, Although this is treatable, you first need to identify which type where they become harder to reach and more likely to stay. Use of woodworm is doing the damage — this might be an occasion wood, mesh or chicken wire and run it along the entire edge when seeking professional advice is best. Common furniture of your decking between the boards and the ground. If you’re beetle problems can be treated yourself using products that you worried that this will ruin your decking’s aesthetic appeal, you can buy online. However, if the culprits are house longhorn or can install a wooden trellis and have the mesh running behind deathwatch beetles, you may need to treat by injection. it. Then, arrange potted plants or flowerbeds around your decking to mask the mesh further. Traps: a humane alternative How about the trees, hedges and bushes in your garden? An alternative way to handle pests is by removing them from These can also offer shelter to pesky critters, so trim these as your garden via traps — of course, these don’t have to be lethal. far back as possible to lower the range of shelter for pests, There are many humane traps available online today for you to and make sure grass is cut regularly. Movement is a great deal with pests in a kind manner. deterrent for birds, if they are your pest problem. Try hanging Using a non-lethal trap is a great way to rid your garden of something that moves — like a wind chime or wind spinner — unwanted guests. Simply place these around your garden with to help keep birds away and prevent them from making a mess bait and release the animal after it’s been caught (at least one on your decking. 45 Streamcombe Cookery School DEVON ASSOCIATION Dulverton - Exmoor - Somerset OF SMALLHOLDERS Breadmaking ESTABLISHED TO SERVE THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS Fish cookery OF SMALLHOLDERS IN DEVON AND THE SOUTHWEST Culinary techniques Game & seasonal food Indian and Italian TRAINING COURSES plus MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Team building FREE ADVERTS, EVENTS DISCOUNTS, ADVICE & MORE! Private groups Day courses from £125 WWW.DEVONSMALLHOLDERS.CO.UK [email protected] | 01398 322873 www.streamcombecookery.co.uk SHROPSHIRE

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It’s about building the home you want, where you have the practical skills. Here, good project management is want it, giving you all the control! Don’t worry if you don’t key in overseeing builders and other contractors. have the practical skills. Here, good project management So, where do you start? Finding a plot that’s right for you is key in overseeing builders and other contractors. systems and photovoltaic cells. Wind turbines are common in can be a challenge, so make sure you put in the time and see So, where do you start? Finding a plot that’s right for you rural England, although mostly commercial. Domestic turbines what’s out there. Register for free with plotbrowser.com. This can be a challenge, so make sure you put in the time and can be linked to the national grid or to batteries, generating is a really useful tool, as you can save your searches and be systems and photovoltaic cells. Wind turbines are common in see what’s out there. 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If you are planning to move the location SelfBuild & Design Show, coming to Westpoint Arena in Exeter location to take advantage of rural views, for example, you’ll If you’ve read through the basics of self build and haven’t to take advantage of rural views, for example, you’ll have to this September. It’s the ideal weekend for anyone contemplating have to prove that it won’t impact on the surroundings. been put off, then great. The next thing to do is check out the prove that it won’t impact on the surroundings. a new build, renovation, conversion or major extension, with Although rules differ from county to county, often the SelfBuild & Design Show, coming to Westpoint Arena in Exeter Although rules differ from county to county, often the a valuable selection of free seminars and masterclasses, replacement house must be no larger in size, or a maximum this September. It’s the ideal weekend for anyone contemplating replacement house must be no larger in size, or a maximum of Q&A sessions, and ask an expert one-to-ones with a range of 50% larger in volume or footprint, than the original dwelling. a new build, renovation, conversion or major extension, with 50% larger in volume or footprint, than the original dwelling. If of industry specialists. Come and meet real selfbuilders and If the proposed build is more extensive than this, other a valuable selection of free seminars and masterclasses, the proposed build is more extensive than this, other conditions discover products and services covering conditions may be put in place. For example, small-scale Q&A sessions, and ask an expert one-to-ones with a range may be put in place. For example, small-scale improvements all aspects of self build. All the advice and inspiration you improvements may now need planning permission. Each of industry specialists. Come and meet real selfbuilders and may now need planning permission. Each project is considered need to start your journey will be on offer. We look forward project is considered as a separate case, so consult your local discover products and services covering all aspects of self build. as a separate case, so consult your local planning officer first. to welcoming you there. planning offi cer fi rst. All the advice and inspiration you need to start your journey will Self-sufficiency is an appealing option for those building Self-suffi ciency is an appealing option for those building be on offer. We look forward to welcoming you there. in the countryside. Water source heat pumps can be used to Use the voucher below to receive one free entry. in the countryside. Water source heat pumps can be used to Use the voucher below to receive one free entry. To order provide heating in homes near to rivers, streams and lakes, To order more tickets, visit selfbuildanddesignshow.com provide heating in homes near to rivers, streams and lakes, more tickets, visit selfbuildanddesignshow.com. Tickets are while the sun can supply energy through solar water heating Tickets are £6 in advance or £12 on the door. while the sun can supply energy through solar water heating £6 in advance or £12 on the door. FREE SHOW ENTRY worth £12 PLUS , Free parking , Children under 16 go free IN ASSOCIATION WITH This voucher is valid for one adult to enter the SelfBuild & Design Show 2018. It can be used on either Saturday 8 September or Sunday 9 September 2018. Under 16s enter for free with accompanying SOUTH WEST Exeter adult. Details must be completed before arriving at the show to validate your voucher and must be handed in at the show to gain free entry. 8 - 9 September 2018 Westpoint, Exeter

NAME Additional tickets can be purchased for £6 per adult in advance by visiting: ADDRESS selfbuildanddesignshow.com/ southwest or by calling 01283 742970. P OSTCODE Tickets on the door are £12 per adult. TELEPHONE Terms and conditions: One voucher per person. Valid for the SelfBuild & Design Show 2018 EMAIL at Westpoint Arena on the dates listed above. PLEASE TICK HERE to receive occasional mailings from: SelfBuild & Design Show SelfBuild & Design magazine

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47 Garden Flower Show 17 - 19 August

Over 40 nurseries & trade stands New floral display trail & The British Flower Bus Flower arranging, specialist talks & RHS advice Free Park and Ride from Torrington

All included with normal garden admission Free for RHS members. For more information rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH Tel 01805 626810 RHS Reg Charity No. 222879 / SC038262