With the 2012 London Olympics just around the corner, local lass Sarah Gayton, is passionate to ensure that the produce from our farms in the UK are on the Olympic menu.
Sarah, who runs "Taste of The Moorlands"  said, 'It is my aim to get thousands of people to join my facebook site to prove to everyone that British farming is very important and of course it will be the farmers who will provide the food to feed the Olympic millions.  I am challenging every farmer to get behind my campaign, take out their mobile phones, shoot a 15 second video and upload it to my facebook page.'
To highlight the campaign, Sarah has set up her very own Facebook page, which is entitled 'Farmers on Film - Feeding the Olympic Dream'. 

To go onto this Facebook page, go onto www.tasteofthemoorlands.co.uk, click onto 'Join the Olympic Campaign' then click onto the Facebook link
Go On Give it a Go!

Check out the September issue of Derbyshire Life Magazine for a great atricle about The Farming LIfe Centre - Pages 144 & 145

Ruth Downing has done an excellent job with lots of great pictures.

We would love to hear your comments and feedback,

 so please let us know what you think!

You can email us by clicking here

The Farming Life Centre, in conjunction with Growing Rural Enterprise, recently organised a tour of three Staffordshire farms recently to show Peak District farmers the potential of Care Farming on their own farms.

As part of the Future Farms programme, participants travelled to Oak Tree Farm Rural Project at Hilderstone, Upper Moreton Farm at Wolseley Bridge and Beaudesert Park Farm, Rugeley, to see very different examples of how Care Farming is put into practice.

At Upper Moreton Farm we met Chris and Carol Carney, who have recently started their care farming business. They are your average family farm with a mixed beef and sheep enterprise, who just one day a week host  a small group of adults who part in the day to day farming activities alongside Chris and Carol.  Many of the activities in a usual farming day are hugely beneficial to clients like Carol’s, who are people recovering from mental health problems  Being in a farm environment and having a sense of purpose has a huge impact on these people’s sense of well-being. Trainer Nick Platt, of Growing Rural Enterprise stressed that developing a care farming project does not need much in the way of additional resources, or initial set-up costs.

A new concept to many, Care Farming, is the therapeutic use of farming practice to help adults and young people overcome mental and health and social issues. The benefit to farmers, from Care Farming can be financial, in terms of the fees paid to them for the use of their farm and their time. There is also the personal satisfaction of seeing clients engage with the farming activities and their subsequent progress and improvement.  According to Julie White of Growing Rural Enterprise “Care Farming has the potential to be the next big farm diversification project for many farmers who are willing to try something a little bit different!”

A new support network for farmers interested in Care Farming is being developed here at the FLC. If you would like more information, please contact Julia Cook, Centre Manager 01298 85162

 More information about Care Farming can be found on the National Care Farming Initiative website.

Farmers are being urged to help lift the burden of red tape from the industry by telling government which agricultural legislation they would like abolished.

A DEFRA taskforce has launched a consultation to find ways to simplify farming regulations and help government cut costs by removing unnecessary rules.

Click here for more information and full article.

Farmers and theirs families in crisis living in Amber Valley and the South Derbyshire Dales are now able to benefit from support from the newly extended Agricultural Chaplaincy service, thanks to funding from the Derbyshire Primary Care Trust Choosing Health Fund.

 The service, which also operates in the High Peak, Hope Valley and north western part of the Dales, provides free, confidential support to farmers and their families by listening to and understanding their problems, signposting to specialist partner agencies and helping them to make life changing decisions.

 Led by Agricultural Chaplain Graham Hinds, the service is now in its seventh year and is very much an asset to the Derbyshire farming community. The project is sponsored by the Industrial Mission, representing all church denominations, and is hosted by Rural Action Derbyshire.

 “I help support farmers and the families through a range of problems, from ill health and bereavement to financial troubles and farm management issues. It is often difficult to know where to turn when times are tough.  My role is to offer a non-judgemental ear, lending support in a pastoral capacity,” said Graham. “Being able to extend my reach to the wider farming community is a tremendous boost and I am pleased I will be able help a great deal many more people.”

 The service is in total confidence and is available at the Drop-In Surgery at Bakewell Livestock Market or through home visits. Graham also hopes to have a presence at the Derby Livestock Market later in the year.

 You can call Graham in complete confidence on 01332 602124 / 07833 638562 or email him at grahamhinds@hotmail.com. Graham is available at the Drop-In Surgery at the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell 10am – 2pm Mondays

Live and Work Rural have announced that they are supporting the cost of some valuable training for farmers wanting to run educational visits and become accredited to do so under the Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme – CEVAS.

It is going to held on 16 & 17 September at Losehill Hall at a cost of just £100 per farmer (for both days)

For further information, please call Lindsay Allen, Live & Work Rural Senior Officer on 01629 816561

Congratulations to the winners of our Farm Quiz:

1st - Mavis Mycock, Flagg Hall

2nd  - Margaret Wheeldon, Topley Head Farm

Thank you to everyone who took part - we had just 5 entries with all answers correct.

If you are still scratching your head, the answers to Guess the Farm Tool were:

1. Milking Stool;  2. Hay/Pitch Fork; 3. Sheep Shears ; 4.Tail Docking Shears

5.Muck Rake; 6. Bull Ring ; 7.Turnip Chopper; 8. Gore Snud (Dock Lifter)

Farmers and their families are invited to learn more about farm tourism at a visit to Wheeldon Trees Farm, Earl Sterndale,on Wednesday 4^th August as part of the Future Farms Project organised by the FLC

Wheeldon Trees, are finalists in the Self Catering category of the East Midlands Tourism Enjoy England Excellence Awards 2010. They are also holders of Peak District Environmental Quality Mark and Green Tourism Silver awards. 

The visit is a wonderful opportunity to take a look at the cottages and facilities at Wheeldon Trees, followed by a seminar on how to make the most of farm tourism through effective marketing and promotion. Owners Deborah and Martin Hoffman will be on hand to share their wealth of knowledge and experience, along with business advisors, Julie White and Nick Platt of Growing Rural Enterprise.

Book your place now - call Julia Cook on 01298 85162  

Future Farms is funded by the Peak District Rural Action Zone LEADER fund.

Basic Food Hygiene – One Day Course

Thursday 19^th August

At Wormhill Village Hall

£45.00 per person

Please book your place by Friday 30^th July

Call Angie Taylor 01298 871907

Farmers, friends and fellow directors were warmly welcomed to our Annual General Meeting, here at The Farming Life Centre on Tuesday 13th July, by Chair of Trustees Sarah Helliwell. Annual Reports were presented by Liz Fitgibbon, Treasurer and Julia Cook, Centre Manager.

There was a sad farewell to Hester Messom, who stood down from the board after quite a number of years of dedicated service. Hester was presented with a bouquet of flowers and thanked for all of her hard work for the centre.

Following the main business, we were treated to a most enjoyable and entertaining talk by Country Matchmaker, Pat Warren of The Farmers and Country Bureau.

The evening was rounded off with a fish and chip supper, enjoyed by all!

As promised here are the answers to our Just For Fun Quiz in our Summer Newsletter:

N E W S L E T T E R

S T R A W B E R R Y

A M B L E

I N F O R M A T I O N

M O T O R C Y C L E

L I T T O N

A P I A R Y

Re-arrange them to get your final answer:  "ANIMALS"

Our annual Strawberry Cream Tea Afternoon was once again a great success!

Guests were delighted by the Maypole Dancing by Children of Litton Primary School, music by The Well Dressed Band and delicious strawberry cream scones provided by our wonderful volunteers.

Please see our Strawberry Cream Tea Page for more details and photographs.

A big Thank You to everyone who helped and supported us!

The Farming Life Centre first Newsletter is now available for you to view online.We hope you like it and welcome your comments and feedback!

Click Here to view!

at The Bluebell Inn, Tissington for A Pie & A Pint!

 This will be an informal question & answer session, specifically aimed at young farmers to give help and advice about working for yourself or  setting up a rural business. It is open to all, whether you are just starting out, or have already set up your business / self-employment. 

(A small fee of £5.00 will be charged to cover supper- payable on the night)

Book Your Place Now ! 

Call Julia Cook on 01298 85162

or email: juliacook@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk

Farmers and their families are invited to learn more about Community Supported Agriculture with a visit to Canalside Community Farm, Leamington Spa, as part of The Farming Life Centre’s Future Farms programme.

Canalside Community Land Trust is a CSA producing fantastic quality and variety of seasonal fruit and vegetables.  Farmers will be able to see a great example of a business where guaranteed regular customer pays in advance for their produce. This is a CSA and could be a real option for peak district farmers to market and sell their wonderful local produce. It could be a lamb box twice a year, logs, a weekly vegetable box, or a dozen eggs a week.

Farmers interested in finding out more about how they could benefit from CSA should join the visit on Monday 7^th June. They will be treated to a guided tour of Canalside Farm, followed by a delicious lunch of home grown produce.  An afternoon workshop will provided information and advice on how to set up a CSA.

Transport is available from The Farming Life Centre – please book your place.

 with Julia Cook on 01298 85162 or email: info@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk

 Future Farms is funded by the Peak District Rural Action Zone LEADER fund

Caroline Spelman MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Prime Minister, David Cameron. Mrs Spelman is Member of Parliament for Meriden.

Before entering Parliament, Mrs Spelman had an extensive career in the agriculture sector, with fifteen years in the agriculture industry and in-depth experience of the international arena, including as deputy director of the International Confederation of European Beet Growers and a research fellow for the Centre for European Agricultural Studies.

Caroline Spelman said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The department is responsible for many of the things that are vital to our quality of life - the food we eat, the air we breathe and how we manage the land we live on and the seas that surround our shores.

“I will work across government and beyond to respond to the challenges of increasing food production, adapting to climate change, protecting our natural environment and ensuring we live sustainably.”

Farmers and Friends of The Farming Life Centre were treated to a fabulous foray around Flagg at the end of April. The glorious weather encouraged an excellent turnout of local people to enjoy a walk around the village of Flagg, very ably guided by local farmers Mavis Mycock and John Mycock.

The group were given an insight into the local history, in particular Flagg Hall which pre-dates the doomsday book, and ancient lead workings believed to have been carried out by the Vikings. The local geography was also explored, across the fields to a natural limestone pavement.

To complete the afternoon, everyone retired to Paddock Cottage, Flagg Hall where they were treated to tea and home-made refreshments made by Joan Poole & Mavis Mycock.

For more information about our future walks, please see our What's On page.

Jenny Taylor, one of our wonderful Health Champions, was invited to Buxton FYFC meeting where she gave a talk on Nutrition and Healthy Eating.

Club members took part in a fun food quiz and learned about healthy food choices, including how to cook a healthy farmhouse breakfast without having to forego your egg and bacon!

The highlight of the evening for many was making and tasting fruit smoothies, and sampling a healthy homemade chocolate courgette cake.

More information about healthy eating can be found on the NHS Healthy Choices Website

The Farming Life Centre were  invited by Yorkshire and Humber Health Trainer hub to present a workshop at their 4^th Annual Health Trainer Event.

Over 150 health trainers, health champions and others attended the day – people working in urban areas such as Bradford, Wakefield, Barnsley as well as more rural settings such as coastal and inland Lincolnshire.  The aim of the day was to celebrate the achievements and progress that the Health Trainer programme has made in the region and to plan for its future.

Linda Syson Nibbs and Julia Cook presented a workshop about The Farming Life Centre’s  Health Trainer Project and the work which our Health Trainer Penny has carried out in promoting health and supporting health needs in the local farming community.

Julia felt that the event was very positive, saying “We were pleased to be invited to promote farming in the Peak District to a new audience and to learn about the many varied ways in which Health Trainers are being deployed in a different part of the country.”