National Countryside Week - 22-28 July - aims to raise awareness of the importance of the countryside to the UK and recognise the people and organisations working tirelessly to maintain and promote rural Britain. Now in its third year, the event is led by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, a charity set up by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010 to champion the British countryside and allocate grants to support those living and working within it.
UK farmers manage more than 85% of the countryside, including looking after fences and footpaths; providing habitats for wildlife; sowing...
McDonald’s is hosting young British farmers behind the counter of its UK restaurants for the first time this week, where they’ll serve customers as part of a training programme designed to provide them with unique insight into what consumers are looking for in the food they buy. Three young farmers in the final stages of the inaugural year of McDonald’s Progressive Young Farmer Training Programme, are working alongside crew members for the chance to speak to customers firsthand and prepare food using ingredients they have seen grown, reared and harvested. Over the last 12 months, each...
Visitors to Countrywide in Broadclyst, formerly ‘Countrywide Town and Country’, should be impressed by its new look, layout and wider range of products - along with a brand new offer especially for Exeter’s equine enthusiasts.
Following extensive feedback, the store has been redesigned and refitted to take customers’ needs more fully into account - offering a wider choice of products, services and staff expertise.
Devon is a growing trading area for Countrywide, with Exeter now home to one of the leading rural retailer’s flagship stores, stocking as many as 4,000 new lines...
On the eve of a potentially devastating badger cull, Team Badger has published a report exposing the myths which underpin these misguided plans.
Team Badger’s ‘Mythbusters Report’ has been published to correct inaccuracies and misconceptions being used to justify the killing of thousands of badgers. The group, made up of the RSPCA, IFAW, the Humane Society International (UK), Born Free, Dr Brian May’s ‘Save Me’ organisation, the League Against Cruel Sports and many other national and local organisations, aims to demonstrate that the near-extermination of the badgers will have...
This is a national event, a day when farms around the country ask you to get on the land and discover what's going on at your local farm - plus entry is free!
So between 11am and 4pm come along to the farm and delight in all it has to offer.
Kevin and Jo will be making seasonal vegetable flatbreads and telling stories in the community garden.
Deggie & Dawn, whose potion making proved a big hit at Spring at the Farm, will be planting seeds in the vegetable garden and leading wild food walks.
There will be bush craft activities, tractor trailer rides...
With food production under extreme pressure from climate turmoil, unsustainable returns, high costs, disease challenges, and confusion over European common agricultural policy reform, the chairman of Devon NFU has called on the government to urgently consider implementing a long-term national food security strategy. Bampton sheep farmer, Colin Rowland, says: “Farmers make up less than two per cent of the population and we currently produce 60 per cent of the nation’s food, but we seem to have been a soft touch for both governments and supermarkets who have taken us for granted over the...
Bacon Connoisseurs Week (18 – 24 March) is set to revolutionise the nation’s love affair with bacon (apologies to all vegetarians among you).
This special week celebrates the many cuts and cures of the great rasher and is a firm favourite in the foodie calendar. This year over 300 cuts and cures from producers all over the nation have been entered into the Bacon Connoisseurs Week Great Bacon Revolution Awards on 18 March. The shortlist includes some tantalising new flavours such as vanilla, cherrywood, beetroot & black pepper and sweet chilli bacon. Other shortlisted rashers...
The 2012 Countryside Alliance Awards (aka the Rural Oscars) were presented to top rural businesses by the Secretary of State for Defra, Owen Paterson MP, at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on 13 March. The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through our small hard-working businesses. They are now in their eighth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: “Rural businesses are vital to the country’s economic recovery. The Government is right behind...
Educational charity Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) is celebrating after receiving a massive boost to help educate more children about food and farming.
The organisation has been awarded a grant by the Prince’s Countryside Fund for its Countryside Matters programme. The funding will enable FACE to target schools in disadvantaged areas and offer them a menu of activities including CPD for teachers, farm visits and other school based projects.
FACE chief executive Bill Graham said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to receive this funding. Many young people are...
In the wake of the horse meat scandal, consumers have told the NFU that they want to see more British food on supermarket shelves and in restaurants.
More than 86 per cent of shoppers are as likely or more likely to buy more traceable food that has been produced on British farms. A further 78 per cent agree or strongly agree that supermarkets should sell more British food.
The results of the One Poll survey, commissioned by the NFU, come as the farming organisation holds its national conference in Birmingham today (Wednesday 28 February) with Tesco chief executive Phillip...
