Farming section:Layout 1
24/4/14
14:35
Page 10
MENDIP TIMES
Help choose the farm woman of the year
THE role of women in farming has grown significantly over the last 20 years – perhaps because we get more publicity. Running a farm is not easy, whether a woman farms on her own account or as the farmer’s wife; she has a huge role to play as she juggles farm work, accounts, With MARY children and cooking as well as providing JAMES MBE vital emotional support to those around her, plus involvement in local activities. This year the Royal Bath and West Show has launched a Farm Woman of the Year Award to celebrate the unseen behind-the-scenes contribution that women make to the farming industry and the communities built around it. The winner will get a well-deserved chance to relax with a spa day for two at a hotel in Shepton Mallet, while all the shortlisted entrants will be given VIP Ladies’ Day tickets to the show. Do you know someone who would fit the bill? It could be your mother, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother or friend perhaps. To nominate someone for Farm Woman of the Year 2014 find the entry form at www.bathandwest.com (or ring Lydia on 01749 822235) and tell the judges in no more than 250 words what makes the woman you are nominating so special and why she deserves to win the award. Every weekend since the water subsided young farmers club members, particularly from Frome, Farrington Gurney
and Chew Valley clubs, have been working on some of the farms so badly affected on the Somerset Levels. In fact YFC members have arrived from across the country. The situation there may have left the headlines but there is so much work to be done. Whilst on the subject of young farmers they have had a choir competition this year. To start with I was amazed – would they participate? Yes they did and the North Somerset Club won the county round and came second in the regional so they go to the national final in the second week in May. Good luck to them. I will keep you posted. On the vexed subject of TB, three more farms around us are affected and another has been shut down for years. This is a problem that has reduced many a tough farmer to tears. It is all so futile. Now cats seem to be picking up the disease; deer and alpacas are already affected so where did they get it from I wonder? We have a time bomb ready to explode. Don’t forget the North Somerset Show on May 5th and the Royal Bath and West Show May 28th-31st.
Tractors for charity
THE annual tractor run, organised by Moose, Westonsuper-Mare, will take place on Sunday, May 18th, in support of the RNLI and other charities. The event has been growing and last month £4,900 was presented to eight charities including the Great Western Air Ambulance and FarmLink. The tractors come from around Weston, the Somerset Levels and the Mendips and have featured a variety of vintage and specialised tractors as well as modern versions – and all are welcome to join in. They aim to leave Westhay Farm off Wolvershill Road at 10am and proceed along Wolvershill Road to Banwell; over Banwell Hill to Hutton then to Uphill Village and from there along the sea front to the RNLI’s temporary HQ where they will break for an hour. From there they will take the toll road and climb Monks Hill; pass Kewstoke Quarry to Worle via Coronation Road and the High street; turn at the Summerhouse roundabout to pass Morrisions and then return to Westhay Farm. Details: Paul 01934 824435 or email alan.moosewsm@outlook.com or see www.facebook.com/groups/moose55wsm or www.moose55wsm
PAGE 10 • MENDIP TIMES • MAY 2014