In this issue of Rural Living, we look ahead to all things ‘summer’ while reflecting on the successes of the last few months.
None more so than celebrating the six most recent recipients of our Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries, including this year’s Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year, Tia Whitrow. We find out about their aspirations for the future and how they’ll be using their well-deserved bursaries.
We also bring you news of our charity activities and support for those in the community, not least our own Cornish Mutual Members, and ongoing support for our region’s farm business awards. Cornish farmer and 2024 award winner Ben Thomas tells us what winning has meant to him.
Our insurance specialists offer the latest on what you need to know this summer, from public rights of way and reducing the risk of livestock worrying to underinsurance and why it’s vital to make sure you are adequately covered at a time of rising costs.
The region’s Rural Crime teams also provide a timely reminder on why the longer daylight hours don’t deter criminals and what you can do to protect yourself from the unrelenting issue of agricultural theft.
Meeting you face-to-face is important to us, and a series of workshops run in partnership with Duchy College on environmental stewardship provided just such an opportunity.
For those unable to join us, we’ve provided a snapshot of what was covered.
Our commitment to supporting you build resilient farm businesses through advice and education is unwavering. To that end, we have just completed another series of our popular Farming Focus™ podcast, with our audience growing month by month. The fifth series is set to begin in June.
The largest gatherings of Members this year will, of course, be the summer agricultural shows. Please do come and say hello to us on stand and don’t forget to take advantage of the ticket discounts detailed on page 20.
That sums up another bumper issue of Rural Living – we hope you enjoy it - and for everything else you’d like us to know – feedback, suggestions - or your questions, contact us on ruralliving@cornishmutual.co.uk.
From The Cornish Mutual Team
New Non-Executive Director joins Board
At this year’s AGM on 27 March, Owen Purcell was announced as a new Non-Executive Director. We also confirmed the re-election of Jeremy Oatey, Paul Davies and Richard Lane.
Owen began his career with Lloyds Banking Group, working across retail, corporate banking and wealth management. He moved into financial services, holding senior roles at Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and JP Morgan, culminating in his tenure at EY as a Managing Partner. At EY, Owen focused on large-scale transformation projects and regulatory matters, advising FTSE 100 and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as government regulators, on operational and risk frameworks.
A passionate advocate for effective governance, Owen serves on Audit and Risk Committees for Innovate UK Loans Ltd, Audit Wales and Blackpool Airport Operating Company, alongside trustee roles at Scouts and AbilityNet. Owen holds qualifications from University College Dublin, the University of Limerick and Harvard Business School. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors.
Re-elected as Non-Executive Directors
Board of Directors
Executive Directors:
Peter Beaumont, Chief Executive Officer
Paul Mahon, Chief Risk Officer
Clare Green, Chief Financial Officer
Non-Executive Directors:
Jeremy Oatey, Board Chair
Paul Davies
Richard Lane
David Fursdon
Jane Quicke
Owen Purcell
Owen Purcell
Jeremy Oatey
Paul Davies
Richard Lane
2024 BursaryWinners
Congratulations to our 2024 bursary winners
We are thrilled to be celebrating the latest winners of our Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries.
Now in their fourth year, and attracting a record number of entries, the bursaries are awarded to both Further Education and Higher Education students studying an agriculture-based course at colleges in the South West.
South West Agricultural Student of the Year
As well as receiving a Further Education bursary, level 2 Agriculture student and active Young Farmer Tia Whitrow is this year’s Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year.
Selected from the six bursary winners, Tia grew up on a family farm and always wanted a career in farming. Tia plans to use the bursary to fund extra qualifications and expand her skills.
“Not a day goes by without me doing something related to agriculture. This could be anything from animal husbandry to stock judging and showing. I’ve got big dreams to help my parents progress the family farm further. One day I would also like to spend some time working in New Zealand and maybe even break some shearing records!”
Tia Whitrow
2024 Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year
Eloise Hickey, Bridgwater and Taunton College
Eloise is studying a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture at the college’s Cannington Campus, and despite not coming from a farming background, she has always wanted to be a farmer. She plans on using the bursary to fund telehandler and AI courses to improve her employability.
Jacob Frost, Duchy College
Jacob is studying a Level 3 Agriculture course and has an interest in regenerative farming. He is currently working on an organic dairy farm and plans on using the bursary to gain his telehandler and ATV tickets to make him more versatile in his current role and future places of work.
Katie Burgoine, Weymouth & Kingston Maurward College
Katie is also from outside agriculture and developed an interest in farming after working as a veterinary care assistant. She is excited by the variety and challenges that come with a career in agriculture and plans to use the bursary to fund driving lessons so she can travel to local farms for work experience.
Imogen Ellis, Duchy College
After a 14-year career as a primary school teacher, which she did alongside working on local farms, Imogen is now in her third year of an Agriculture degree. She is interested in working with schools, farmers and supermarkets to support families with decision-making around food.
Poppy Cook, University Centre Somerset
Currently studying a Level 5 course in Agricultural Business Management, Poppy is also an active member of Young Farmers, Devon Women in Dairy and Holstein Young Breeders. She hopes to be a role model for young farmers and to encourage others to consider a career in farming.
“Supporting the next generation of farmers is crucial to the future of agriculture in the South West. All this year’s recipients demonstrated a clear passion for their areas of interest within the farming industry and a determination to play their role within it.”
Peter Beaumont, Cornish Mutual Chief Executive Officer
Isabella Fieldhouse
2023 Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year
Oxford
Farming Conference inspires
Last year’s Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of Year Isabella Fieldhouse attended the Oxford Farming Conference as part of her prize.
“Receiving the award last year was an incredible honour, and as soon as the offer to attend the Oxford Farming Conference 2025 was made, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
Applications for this year’s Bursary open in September
The Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries return this September, helping to further support agricultural students across the South West.
Further Education Bursary
Open to students studying an agriculture-based Level 1, 2 or 3 course at Bicton, Duchy, Weymouth & Kingston Maurward, and Bridgwater & Taunton College, Cannington Campus.
Higher Education Bursary
Open to students studying an agriculture-based Level 5 or 6 course at University Centre Somerset and Duchy College.
Full details available in September.
“I left the conference feeling inspired, informed and with a renewed sense of connection to the industry.”
The Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries are part of the Future Farming Programme, which supports the future of agriculture in the region. To find out more, visit: https://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/ cmfuturefarming/young-farmer-bursaries/
Helping you build your farm’s resilience
Earlier in the year we ran a series of workshops in partnership with Duchy College, to provide practical advice on aspects of farm management focused on environmental stewardship. While aligned at the time to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), for which new applications have since stopped, the topics support in building long-term resilience of all farming systems.
Making nature work for you
Integrated pest management (IPM) is fast becoming an established part of UK farming. As more conventional crop protection options are reducing, IPM provides a sustainable alternative. In this workshop, Anthony Ellis from Farm Carbon Toolkit looked at effective pest control strategies based on “how to make nature work for us”.
IPM is centred on three pillars – prevention, monitoring and intervention. Prevention can be achieved through crop rotation and intercropping, while monitoring ranges from simply walking your fields to the use of more detailed warning systems. Where intervention is required, this can be via
physical actions such as harrowing and livestock grazing, biological applications using bacteria and fungi or more conventional chemical control, such as insecticides.
Overall, IPM delivers financial and environmental benefits: reduced costs associated with chemical applications; decreased environmental and health risks; enhanced biodiversity and long-term soil health; improved crop resilience and yield.
To find out more, go to: https://ahdb.org.uk/integratedpest-management-ipm-hub
Protecting a vital living ecosystem
Having a plan for increasing and maintaining soil health is fundamental to securing a sustainable farming system. Hugo Ellis, an agronomist with our partners Terrafarmer, used his workshop to remind farmers of the five regenerative principles of soil health: keep the soil covered; minimise soil disturbance; increase plant diversity; keep roots in soil and integrate livestock. Defining soil health as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans”, Hugo outlined the biological, chemical and physical aspects of soil needing to be measured and maximised in order to build soil and business resilience.
These included counting the number and diversity of earthworms, analysing the nutrient content and pH, and checking for compaction, erosion and waterlogging.
What is good nutrient management?
Maintaining a profitable farming business, as well as reducing environmental impacts, requires good nutrient management, Ross Cherrington from the Westcountry Rivers Trust told participants at this nutrient-focused workshop. Nutrient budgeting and carefully planned applications of manufactured fertilisers and organic materials are central to this.
Included in his ‘best practice’ techniques was the ‘what, when and how’ of keeping nutrients within target levels. Ground conditions featured highly on this list – avoiding frozen, waterlogged, deeply cracked and steeply sloping ground beside watercourses, as well as timing applications to avoid preceding heavy rain and keeping machinery well calibrated.
Longer-term soil health also plays a role. Compacted soil, for example, can reduce nutrient uptake by up to a third, so regular soil testing every 3-5 years is recommended. Similarly, testing organic manures (FYM), including digestates and composts, increases the accuracy of nutrient budgeting prior to applications, although standard figures are also available from AHDB’s nutrient management guide RB209.
Free Soil Guide
To find out more on nutrient management and overall soil health, ask your local Field Advisor for a copy of our comprehensive soil guide: Building a resilient farm from the ground up.
Realising the full value of hedges
Hedgerows have many roles on farm – a habitat for wildlife and nesting birds, shelter for livestock, protection for crops and food for pollinators to name but a few. To protect them and maintain their value to a farming system, there are several pieces of legislation covering how hedgerows are managed, the most recent coming into effect last year.
The workshop on hedgerow assessment led by Dartmoor beef and sheep farmer Louise Davis from Farm Cornwall, gave detailed advice on maximising returns from the current hedgerow management schemes available. She also outlined examples of healthy, well managed hedgerows compared to those over-trimmed or overgrown, as shown below:
To find out more, go to: https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org
Is your insurance cover enough to rebuild?
Have you reviewed your building insurance recently and would it cover the full cost of a rebuild? Field Advisor Jo Hawkins recommends: “Now is a good time to check that the sums insured on your farm and residential buildings are sufficient to cover the full reinstatement cost, or you could find yourself underinsured and facing a shortfall when making a claim. Rising costs are affecting property rebuild and repair costs.”
What does this mean in practice?
If rebuild costs are double the value on your policy, you are 50% underinsured. This means you are unlikely to be paying the right premium and could be left to pay the shortfall yourself. Having the correct level of cover is almost as important as having cover in the first place.
Calculating the cost of a rebuild
Calculating the cost of a rebuild accurately is difficult and often requires the help of a professional building surveyor. This is particularly true when stone or listed buildings are involved, but all properties can benefit from a revaluation every few years due to fluctuations in the cost of labour, materials and site clearance.
To help support you in having the right cover in place, we’ve developed an in-house building valuation tool. The tool helps to accurately value buildings and ensures that you are not at risk of underinsurance.
Increasing the insured sum on a policy to secure adequate cover may come with a small additional cost but it is invaluable in preventing being left out of pocket if or when the worst happens.
To discuss your current level of cover, talk to your local Field Advisor, or call our Member Services team on 01872 277151.
Are the footpaths on your land clear and accessible?
Public Rights of Way (PROW)
With more people exploring the countryside during the warmer months, farmers and landowners face the challenge of protecting both their livestock and the public.
Managing Public Rights of Way (PROW) across land can be challenging, but it is a legal requirement to ensure these paths remain accessible. Although walkers may not always follow the Countryside Code, causing frustrating and potentially dangerous issues with litter, dog mess and livestock worrying, taking proactive, preventative measures can help.
Legal responsibilities
Blocking a public footpath is a criminal offence and you could be liable if injuries occur from using damaged stiles, kissing gates or obstructed paths. Farmers must ensure paths are clear and well-maintained, with stiles and gates in a safe condition.
Keeping the area around the path clear of hazards also reduces the likelihood of walkers straying. Ideally, keep a one-metre-wide area clear on either side of the footpath to encourage walkers to stay on the correct route. Fences and way markers can also help. If a path becomes unclear due to ploughing or planting, it must be reinstated within 14 days to the correct width.
You can consider formally diverting footpaths running diagonally across fields or in problem areas, but this requires agreement from local authorities and user groups.
Is public liability cover recommended?
While farmers are not legally required to have public liability insurance for PROW, it is strongly recommended. Cornish Mutual’s farm insurance policies include public liability cover as standard, offering protection and peace of mind.
Managing livestock & public access
Maintaining access in areas containing animals can be tricky. Where possible, livestock, especially cows with calves, are best kept in fields without footpaths, but if unavoidable, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offers guidelines on public access. It is also advised to monitor livestock daily and record any necessary changes.
Fences and gates should be maintained and checked regularly to prevent livestock straying. Clear signage can be used to warn the public about the presence of livestock and to remind them dogs must be kept on leads.
Free ‘dogs on leads’ signs
01305 221000
www.hse.gov.uk
We are offering free ‘dogs on leads’ signs to help you keep your livestock safe.
To request a sign, email marketing@cornishmutual.co.uk or call 01872 277151.
Farming Focus™ hits impressive milestone
As another series of our popular Farming Focus™ podcast comes to an end, we are thrilled to have exceeded 10,000 downloads and increased engagement with our audience.
Hosted by Cornwall farmer Peter Green, series four covers topics spanning from how to balance time spent in the business with time spent on it, looking at different ways to farm, stacking enterprises and how to make manures matter. The next few pages give a snapshot of three episodes featured in the latest series.
Series five begins in June and promises to be no less diverse, covering what really matters to farmers across the South West.
Your feedback helps shape our podcast. If there are areas you’d like us to cover or guests you’d love to hear from, contact us at podcast@cornishmutual.co.uk or connect with our socials.
Farming Focus™ is available via Spotify and Apple podcasts or at www.cornishmutual.co.uk/newsadvice/farming-focus-podcast/.
Andrew Sincock
Anna Bowen
Rhian and Jack Marchant
David Oates
Tim May
Laura Awdry
Emily Norton
The power of collaboration
Farm clusters have become increasingly popular in the UK, offering the opportunity to collaborate, share resources and achieve common goals by bringing together farmers, landowners and other stakeholders within a specific geographic area.
Mel Bradley MBE has 15 years of experience in gathering people together and facilitates the Kenn Valley Farm Cluster group, of which Devon farmer Ben Mortimer is Chair. In his experience, farm clusters allow farmers to share experiences and solve problems collectively.
“There’s a lot of change going on in agriculture at the moment. Being able to form a group and work as a group is a really good tool to get everyone to be able to deal with all the changes,” he says.
Farm clusters can also unlock access to larger funding opportunities and engage broader communities. Mel explains: “It gives you access to larger funding pots and bigger national organisations. It also gives you an opportunity to engage with the wider community as a group.”
With groups often focusing on landscape recovery, biodiversity and resource management, the environmental benefits of farm clusters are clear, but there can be other benefits too.
“The social aspect is key,” Mel says. “Knowing other farmers are facing similar challenges can make a huge difference, especially in a world full of uncertainty.”
1. Start small. Speak to a couple of neighbours and work out your common ground.
2. Building trust is essential. Keep communication open and set a manageable pace for growth.
3. The ideal group size is a balance of having enough voices and perspectives, while being able to coordinate and engage everyone.
4. Involve a mix of participants, such as land agents, lawyers or academics, alongside farmers.
5. Use a facilitator for the administrative tasks and managing relationships to keep the group progressing.
6. Include a mix of meeting formats – discussions, external speakers, practical on-farm activities.
7. Consider a member ‘fee’ to encourage commitment and investment in the group.
Mel and Ben’s tips for setting up a farm cluster
From surviving to thriving
A succession of traumas led farmer Eddie Rixon to transform his life and farm in ways he would never have considered previously. Joined by Dorset farmer and talking therapies practitioner Ellie Sturrock, they discussed the importance of embracing nature, shifting your mindset and seeking support.
In 2017, after a series of catastrophic events, Eddie suffered a mental breakdown. “A good friend of mine could see that I wasn’t in a good place,” says Eddie. “I was at a critical junction in life, and it was the catalyst for change that I needed.”
Eddie was drawn to how he could reshape the farm and diversify, spotting an opportunity to build natural capital. “I realised that we needed to not only regenerate the land but also our communities’ connection with food, farming, and nature.” The result was Roots and Rhythms, an Innovate UK-funded project, moving Eddie from ‘ego-centric’ to ‘ecocentric’ thinking, and helping shape better decision-making for all species on the land while remaining mindful of financial viability.
He has also opened his farm to the local community: “A farm is a perfect landscape for enabling people to deepen their connection with nature.” A point echoed by Ellie: “When people are at their worst, they are stuck in their heads, ruminating on what’s gone wrong. Nature draws us out of ourselves.”
But she cautions for farmers the opposite can be true, and spending time away from the farm, even if it’s just going to the cinema or visiting a friend, can be more helpful. And for those needing further support, there is a range of services available: “We can see people in their tractors, on the move. Therapy can fit into their lives in a way that works for them. Farmers don’t have to struggle alone — help is out there.”
& wellbeing support
• FCN: 03000 111 999 or help@fcn.org.uk
• RABI: 0800 188 4444 or help@rabi.org.uk
• Mind: 0300 102 1234
• Samaritans: 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org
• SHOUT: text ‘Shout’ to 85258
• NHS Talking Therapies: go to www.nhs.uk to find your local service.
Why the UK needs active rewilding
Often thought of as simply ‘shutting the gate’ on a piece of land, farming consultant Jim Bliss explained why rewilding requires an active approach in the UK.
On his Nuffield travels, Jim Bliss saw some spectacular examples of what he calls ‘passive’ rewilding, where stock had been removed from the land and nature returned, but the UK doesn’t have the space to take this approach.
Many of the best examples he’s seen are where income streams are being diversified through rewilding projects, such as nature tourism, and all leading to environmental recovery.
Alongside active rewilding, circular farming shares many of the same attributes, says regenerative agronomist Hugo Ellis. “I think they both strive for a balance. One being a balance of an ecosystem and the other a balance of a business or farming system.
“So, it’s much better to have active rewilding, which does involve farming, just in a more nuanced way, where it’s all about diversity,” says Jim Bliss.
“Diversity runs between the two as well. A circular farming system means you need a diversity of enterprises to be able to share resources between them and in rewilding it’s about having diversity of habitats, wildlife and plants.”
During his time on the Lowther Estate in Cumbria, Jim was involved with its transition from sheep and arable to outwintered English Longhorn cattle and Tamworth pigs stocked at one pig per 1000 acres. “We wanted scrubland to naturally regenerate and have the animals that could work alongside it as a proxy to ancient species. We have to use domestic animals to deliver our environmental aims.”
But active rewilding doesn’t have to be all or nothing, it can involve small pockets of land taken out of intensive production, suggests Jim.
Hugo also believes soil is at the heart of a circular farm: “Soil itself is actually a circular system, and if we can get our soil right on farm, a lot of other things can follow.”
Owner of Blissfully Wild consultancy & Nuffield Scholar
Regenerative Agronomist with Terrafarmer
J i m Bliss
H ugo Ellis
How to deter rural crime
As winter gives way to spring and summer, longer daylight hours don’t necessarily mean a let up in rural crime unfortunately, so it pays to stay alert and focus on making your farm unattractive to criminals.
PCSO Brett Worthington from the Avon & Somerset Police Rural Crime Team suggests combining physical security measures with collaborative community efforts and
technology to better protect yourself from the threat of agricultural theft. Proactive planning and vigilance can reduce the impact of crime and safeguard your business.
• Enhanced security systems: Install security measures such as CCTV cameras, motion-sensor lighting and intruder alarms, plus security gates with robust locks. Visible cameras and lighting act as strong deterrents.
• Perimeter security and lighting: Maintain strong fences and clear boundary lines to act as a first line of defence.
• Secure storage and locking systems: Store expensive equipment like tractors, quad bikes and tools in locked sheds or secure barns, ideally with heavy-duty locks, immobilisers and wheel clamps on vehicles.
• Asset marking and identification: Mark valuable equipment, machinery and livestock with unique identifiers to make them traceable and harder to sell.
• Tracking technology: For high-value vehicles and machinery, GPS tracking devices can help trace stolen items in real-time, increasing the likelihood of recovery.
• Collaboration and community watch: Join your local rural crime prevention groups to help identify suspicious activity and to receive warning of community safety issues.
Rural Crime Teams
The Rural Crime teams across our region specialise in agricultural, environmental, heritage and wildlife crime, as well as livestock attacks and theft. They provide guidance and support, working with neighbourhood officers and trained Wildlife Crime Officers. Fighting rural crime remains a priority for the police forces across our region.
Community Alert Systems
Devon and Cornwall: www.alerts.dc.police.uk
Dorset: www.dorsetalert.co.uk
Somerset: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
Farm Watch Schemes
Devon and Cornwall: www.devon-cornwall.police.uk
Dorset: www.dorset.police.uk
Avon and Somerset: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
Good business sense
On our Farming Focus™ podcast, Dr Kate Tudor explained why rural crime makes ‘good business sense’- it’s low risk and high reward. It is rarely opportunistic, with well-organised gangs carrying out meticulously planned operations on identified targets. Don’t let your farm be one of them.
Always report crime
• If you see a crime taking place or there’s a threat to life, call 999
• In a non-emergency call 101 or report a crime on your local police team’s website
• To report a crime anonymously, contact Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org
“Unless a crime or suspicious incident is reported and recorded it hasn’t happened and the police cannot begin to investigate, prevent or bid for resources to stop the problem happening again.”
PCSO Tom Balchin, Dorset Police Rural Crime Team
For more rural crime advice, ask your local Field Advisor for a copy of our comprehensive Working together to prevent rural crime guide. With input from the South West Regional Forces’ rural crime teams, it gives you hints and tips in the areas of crime seen most often on South West farms and signposts further help.
Summer shows
Come and see us at the following agricultural shows this summer and make the most of our Member discounts, available at selected shows. Whether it’s our marquee, hospitality trailer, or gazebo — keep an eye out for Cornish Mutual and drop by for a warm welcome. Go to www.cornishmutual.co.uk for the full list of shows we are attending.
Show Date
Devon County Show
Royal Cornwall Show
Liskeard Show
Totnes and District Show
Launceston Show
Honiton Show
Okehampton Show
Mid-Somerset Show
Melplash Show
Dorset County Show
Thursday 15th - Saturday 17th May
Thursday 5th - Saturday 7th June
Saturday 12th July
Sunday 27th July
Thursday 31st July
Thursday 7th August
Thursday 14th August
Sunday 17th August
Thursday 21st August
Saturday 6th - Sunday 7th September
Members can now access exclusive 2025 discounts on show tickets.
Currently available: 10% OFF tickets to the Devon County Show and Melplash Show
Scan the QR code to unlock your Member Benefits and claim your discount. 10% OFF
Trailer set to support rural education
Cornhill Farm in West Cornwall is expanding its education and community outreach programme thanks to a new farm trailer sponsored by local businesses, including Cornish Mutual.
Members Pete and Jenny Olds, the fourth generation to run the 200-acre mixed farm, welcomed over 1,000 visitors to the farm in 2024. The new covered personnel trailer, with disabled access and room for a whole class of children, will help them double visitor numbers. “Having two young children ourselves, we are passionate about ‘doing our bit’ for farm education,” says Jenny Olds. “The new trailer allows us to show more visitors more of the farm and enables them to take part in activities such as pond dipping, collecting the eggs and
meeting our animals. And importantly, the trailer’s wheelchair access means students with additional needs can join their classmates on every aspect of the visit.”
Pete and Jenny also plan to make the trailer available to other farms in Cornwall looking to offer free educational visits.
The Olds received a grant from Cornwall Council’s Growth Hub Grant Programme and the Dartington Trust as well as sponsorship from other local companies including HLH Hutchinsons, Boscrowan Holiday Cottages and local rural surveyors Lodge & Thomas.
Protecting the rural community by showing more people the importance of farming in the region is central to what we do at Cornish Mutual, and we are delighted to be supporting Pete and Jenny’s efforts in this area.
Charity & Community news
Celebrating farming success
We are delighted to continue our support of the Farm Business Awards in Devon and Cornwall. Run by the Addington Fund, the awards celebrate the success of farmers across the region. Recognising the achievements of local businesses that form the backbone of our community is incredibly important and something we are very proud to champion.
“We’re hugely grateful for Cornish Mutual’s support of our Farm Business Awards - it means so much to us and the farming community,” said Sue English, Fund Director of Addington Fund.
“Your backing helps us highlight the hard work and dedication of farmers, celebrating their achievements and inspiring the future of the industry.”
The Devon Farm Business Awards are coming up soon on the 14th of May, ahead of the Devon County Show. We are proud to continue our support for these awards and this year we will be sponsoring the Best Family Farm category, celebrating multi-generational businesses with a shared, long-term vision for the future.
The Cornwall Farming Business Awards are held in October and at last year’s awards, Ben Thomas was named Rising Star, the award sponsored by Cornish Mutual. Alongside his wife Claudia, Ben farms on the edge of Bodmin Moor rearing beef,
sheep and pigs using a regenerative system.
“To be recognised in such a positive way by my farming peers, who will always be the biggest critics, was reassuring and it has given me the confidence to push on down the path we are going.
“Farming can be an isolating industry to work in, and poor mental health is a real issue, so celebrating success and bringing in some positivity is important. Highlighting farmers who are doing a great job only helps to inspire others to do the same.”
Ahead of this year’s awards, Ben encourages local farmers to enter and nominate others:
“Connections are everything in your career, and so being able to showcase what you are doing to the judges is a great opportunity. To then be shortlisted and potentially win is a brilliant way to boost your ‘brand’. If you are looking for progression and ways to test yourself, go for it!”
Nominations for the Cornwall Farm Business Awards open in June.
To find out more visit: opening-soon-cornwall
B
Raising money for farming-centred charity
We see supporting local charities and community groups as a central part of our corporate social responsibility and each year, ask our team to select a charity partner on which to focus our activities.
This year, we’ve chosen the Farming Community Network (FCN). Like us, it’s an organisation with farmers at its heart, supporting farming families and rural communities through difficult times.
Throughout the year, we’ll be raising money in a variety of ways, often with a distinctly food-related theme. Bake sales, retro buffets and cream teas are sure to feature, although inspiring personal challenges are not uncommon, with Cornish Mutual matching the funds raised from these events. We look forward to telling you more later in the year.
South West Air Ambulance Trusts
Three charities we continue to support year on year are the Air Ambulance Trusts serving our region, namely Dorset & Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
Another critical part of our communities, we will once again be raising funds for them at this year’s agricultural shows. Let’s see if we can smash the £3,000 you helped us raise in 2024.
Employees volunteer at Farm & Country Days
In March, the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association (RCAA) held its annual Farm & Country Days for primary school children across Cornwall, in partnership with the Cornwall Food & Farming Group. Held over two days at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre, over 1500 children visited the popular event to take part in almost 50 hands-on activities taking them from field to fork.
Exhibits included vegetable planting, cheese making, milking, recycling and cooking, as well as the opportunity to interact with live piglets, lambs, rare breeds and cattle. They were run by local businesses and farmers, passing on knowledge to the next generation of consumers.
The event is also made possible by dozens of volunteers helping to chaperone the school groups around the venue, ensuring every student gains the most they can from the day. We were delighted so many Cornish Mutual staff were among the 120 volunteers giving up their time to take part. Everyone is given one paid day for volunteering because we see this as a vital part of our work to support the South West farming community.
“I found the Farm & Country Day very rewarding, it was great to see how enthusiastic the children were to learn about the various aspects of farming. Events like this would not be able to run without volunteers so I think it’s so important Cornish Mutual continues to support the event. I learnt a lot from the day and there’s no doubt the children leave with a better understanding of opportunities available within this sector.” Gemma Elloway, Volunteer
Join us on a farm walk
Farmers learn from other farmers and like nothing more than seeing what their peers are doing on farm to develop their farming businesses.
Over recent years Cornish Mutual has built a programme of on-farm events and farm walks to help farmers do just that. We’ve visited farms and local businesses keen to share what they are doing, discuss the challenges they are addressing and outline the opportunities available to other farmers.
Covering everything from successful business growth, regenerative farming principles to inspiring women in agriculture, we are now looking to our future programmes and would love your feedback.
If there is something you’d like to know about or a business you’ve always wanted to visit, let us know.
To complete our short survey, please scan the QR code. Equally, if you have business experience or specialist knowledge you could share with others, or are happy to host a farm walk, we’d love to hear from you too.
Please contact us on marketing@cornishmutual.co.uk, or call our Farming Engagement Coordinator on 01872 246464.
Exclusive to Members
Register to access the Member Area of the Cornish Mutual website today and make going paperless and reviewing your policies just a click away. What’s more, you’ll also gain access to a range of exclusive Member Benefits.
Member Benefits
Everyday deals and discounts from 100s of leading brands
Your Policies
Complete access to view your policies online
Online Safety Support
0808 189 2300
Support and advice on all cyber-related questions and needs from the specialists at Cyberscout.
*Cyberscout, a TransUnion brand. *
More features coming soon
We’re continuously enhancing your Member Area to give you greater control and convenience when managing your cover. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the way:
• Easy access to renew your policies online
• Payments in full accessed directly on the Member Area
Haven’t registered? Scan the QR code to register and log on to the Cornish Mutual Member Area or visit https:// my.cornishmutual.co.uk/. Alternatively, please call 01872 277151.
Cornish Mutual is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Make managing your cover easier with 0% interest on monthly payments when you pay by Direct Debit.
Latest Member Benefits
As a Cornish Mutual Member, you have unique access to a wide range of Member Benefits, including offers and discounts on everyday shopping, motoring, travel and more. Log in to the Member Area or register now to take full advantage of all of our Member Benefits. Scan the QR code, or phone 01872 277151.
Save up to 20% on family-friendly UK staycations*
Cornish Mutual Members can enjoy great savings with Boundless Breaks. From their holiday park in the Forest of Dean to their seaside hotel in Bournemouth, you are bound to have a memorable time.
Save up to 15% off at Whitemead Forest Park. Nestled in the Forest of Dean, you can enjoy luxury glamping pods and log cabins with hot tubs, and family entertainment to keep the little ones busy.
Save up to 20% on stays of two nights or more at Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel, a 4-star hotel situated near beautiful sandy beaches with swimming pools and spa facilities.
20% discount on Virgin Experience Days**
Looking for an inspirational gift idea or a treat for yourself? Then you’ve come to the right place! Cornish Mutual has teamed up with Virgin Experience Days to offer you a 20% discount** on over 4,000 experiences including:
- 1 Hour Seal Safari Experience for Two Adults and Two Children
- Prosecco Afternoon Tea for Two at a Traditional Pub
- Summer Discovery Day with Helicopter Trip and Hike for Two
Delivered instantly via e-voucher, or in the stylish gift packing, you’ll be sure to make someone’s day truly special.
Privacy Policy
Please note we have recently updated our privacy policy. This policy explains how we collect information, what we do with it and the rights you have over your personal information when interacting with us. At Cornish Mutual we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. To read our Privacy Policy please visit: www.cornishmutual.co.uk/privacy-policy/
Rural Living Crossword Puzzle
Across
1. The process of gathering crops from the fields when they are fully mature.
4. The ability to maintain agricultural practices that meet present needs without compromising future generations.
6. The artificial supply of water to crops to aid their growth and productivity.
8. The practice of cultivating planets and rearing animals for food.
9. Plants that are grown and harvested for agricultural purposes.
10. The use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to develop or modify agricultural products and crops.
2. The upper layer of the earth’s surface in which plants grow.
3. The activity of cultivating land, growing crops, and raising animals for food production.
5. Domestic animals raised for meat, milk, eggs, or other agricultural products.
7. The science and practice of soil management and crop production for sustainable agriculture.
We would love to know what you think of Rural Living.
Please email your feedback to ruralliving@cornishmutual.co.uk.
