Farm Life - from hands-on to robotic milkers

by Roger Hill

I came across an old photo (right) of our milk churns back in the early 1970s. It just reminded me of the changes within the dairy industry over the last fifty years.

I remember my dad sitting on a three-legged wooden stool milking the cows by hand. The milk was tipped into the ten gallon (45 litre) churns, and as a boy I would help wheel them to the stream to cool overnight. The next morning they would be lifted on to the north facing shaded milk stand for collection.

The introduction of bulk refrigeration tanks was a revelation as all the milk was stored in a large vat, but more importantly cooled automatically. Milking machines also moved forward from shippon (cattle shed) to abreast parlours and from herringbone to rotary. Herd size increased, but dairy farms decreased.

We recently visited a farm near South Molton where the cows amble in, totally relaxed, to be milked by robots. Whilst watching I had a surprise because along came a robotic hoover cleaning up behind the cows. My wife thought one would be good for me to have in our kitchen after I’ve walked through with muddy boots! ‘Til next time, Roger #TuppertheTractor (tupperthetractor.com)

Award winning ‘In Bloom’ volunteers forced to cancel

They won gold twice, shining a muchwelcomed national light on South Molton. But now the volunteer group has been forced to pull its 2024 entry in the prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom competition - citing vandalism as one of the reasons.

“Sadly we have been severely affected and disheartened by vandalism, theft and also the sale of the big bank in Raleigh Mead on which we had worked so hard and creatively for two years,” said the group’s coordinator Sue Harrison. “Until we are reassured that the volunteers’ good work around the town will remain undisturbed, it won’t be possible to enter competitions with confidence.”

They say they have also found it hard to compete against larger communities who

All smiles in 2022, when they won gold for South Molton for a second time can draw on vastly more resources.

The ‘In Bloom’ team say they’ve spent more than £30,000 on planting around the townwinning gold medals in 2021 and 2022. They wish to thank South Molton Town Council and all their sponsors for their support. The volunteers now plan to focus on maintaining existing planted areas around the town.

Businesses or individuals who would like to sponsor the group, or new volunteers can email: sue@southmoltoninbloom.co.uk