The CLA launches Manifesto for ‘making the most of our Countryside’

The 16-page document covers all areas of sustainable development under the three themes of Enabling Rural Business, Caring for the Countryside, and Enjoying Our Countryside.

The CLA calls on the next Government to develop polices to tackle the twin challenges of Food Security and Environmental Security, which will have a positive impact on the rural economy, the environment and society as a whole.

The Manifesto deals with goods and services that land managers deliver and are core to the future of life in Britain: putting food on our tables, safeguarding our environment tackling global warming.

Full press release Making the most of our Countryside: The CLA Manifesto for the Rural Economy 2009

Download PDF of Making the most of our Countryside: The CLA Manifesto for the Rural Economy 2009

Rubbish Survey

Ever wondered what we are throwing away? Here's more data than you could ever want, unless you have an idea. As they say where's there muck there's brass...

One small step for a cheese

BBC NEWS | England | Wiltshire | Cheesemakers in space flight bid: "Members of the West Country Cheesemakers group are to attempt to make the first space flight by a piece of Cheddar.
The group plans to launch a weather balloon 18.6 miles (30km) into the upper atmosphere carrying a capsule containing a piece of handmade Cheddar."

The same group had the cheese cam in 2007 which was a huge publicity hit - they certainly are imaginative. Goodluck to them.

Farmland shows evidence of two-tier market - 22/07/2009 - FarmersWeekly

Farmland shows evidence of two-tier market - 22/07/2009 - FarmersWeekly: "the strength of the arable land market in Wiltshire and Dorset resulted in a boost in values for this region,”"

Good news if you've got it, but it makes it harder to get on the first rung for buyers.

Broadband for all soundbite trumps content, quality • The Register

Broadband for all soundbite trumps content, quality • The Register: "Patrick Barwise, professor of marketing and management at the London Business School, was unimpressed by government obsession with 'fat pipes'. He argued that the barriers for the 40 per cent of the UK population not yet on the internet were not financial, and would not be satisfied by access to games or streaming. They would probably be happy with much slower speed basic services, if they were relevant to them.
The target was therefore more to do with grabbing headlines than meeting the real needs of net users.
This debate continued at last week’s seminar, 'Broadband for all', which focused on the presumption that people ought to be online, and identifying the obstacles to getting them there. In this respect, much was made of 'empowerment', giving individuals the confidence and the desire to use the internet.
Some speakers talked about 'trickle down' – the idea that net usage will gradually broaden of its own accord from early adopters to everyone. Against this was the possibility of wielding a stick, with delivery of public services increasingly shifting online, and benefits perhaps in time being payable online only.
Also raised were issues around the cost and practicality of open reach for all: whether individuals in the wilds of Scotland should be entitled to the same level of service as everyone else – and if so, who should pay for the high incremental cost of delivering it."

As I've said befor large parts of Wiltshire, let alone the wilds of Scotland, are without broadband and it is now a business essential. It needs sorting, not soundbites.

West Country property: a home in the 'cocktail belt' - Telegraph

West Country property: a home in the 'cocktail belt' - Telegraph: "Fractionally too far from London for the daily commute and just muddy enough to be classified as true countryside, the triangle between Shaftesbury in Dorset, and Tisbury and Salisbury in Wiltshire is popular with artists, photographers, and eccentrics who are after the rural idyll yet want London within their sights. 'This is the Mayfair of the area,' says Michael de Pelet, of Knight Frank in Sherborne. 'It's extremely social yet unspoilt, with picturesque houses and small lanes with high hedges.'"

A fantastic area of Wiltshire but I hadn't heard it called the Cocktail Belt before.

An Unwanted Brush With Fame

A MAN has been arrested after apparently firing a shotgun to scare off tourists visiting a crop circle.
The fiend reportedly hid in a tent in the centre of the design before jumping out and firing over the heads of a group of visitors, thought to be from Norway.

The group were taking in a tour of British crop circle sites when the man allegedly opened fire at them at around 2pm on Monday in fields close to the village of Allington, near Devizes, Wiltshire.

The group of tourists fled and called police, who sent armed officers and a helicopter to the scene.... (The Sun)

In some reports my farm was the centre of the story - Luckily the CLA local press officer emailed the papers concerned and got it corrected. It wasn't me, it wasn't my farm, I know nothing! But as a lesson as how easy it is to get dragged into news story it was quite worrying.
At lunch time it was one story, eight hours later Google has 110 newspapers running the release, tomorrow morning who knows. I'm very grateful that getting the first one corrected seems to have corrected them all.

Rural jobseekers being hit harder by recession, research says - Telegraph

Rural jobseekers being hit harder by recession, research says - Telegraph

The increase in rural jobseekers has jumped by 287 per cent over the last twelve months.

As someone said to me yesterday the trees hide a lot of misery.

New Dairy Investment in Wiltshire

Wiseman increases production to cope with surge in milk demand - Scotsman.com Business: "The Scottish firm is also building a £9.7m depot in Wiltshire, which it expects to be up and running by Christmas"

Dairy farmers need good news such as new investment s badly now as commodity prices are at rock bottom and many farmers are suffering and worried for the future.

Wiltshire Council's Rural Facilities Survey 2008

Wiltshire Council's Rural Facilities Survey 2008 has now been published, and permits comparison with earlier surveys across a range of services and facilities (the presence or absence in each settlement of a post office, public house, doctor's surgery, sports pitches, kids' play area,etc.). At the same time, however, it is recognised that life in rural areas moves on, and this latest report introduces a range of topics for the first time that reflect today's changing technology, lifestyles and concerns. These topics include: supermarket delivery services, recycling facilities, broadband speeds and mobile phone reception.


In terms of the presentation of the data, previous reports have been organised on the basis of the former Community Areas, as defined by Wiltshire County Council, and this remains the case in the 2008 report. However, along with the coming-into-being of the new authority in April 2009, the Community Area boundaries have been revised . With this in mind, a supplementary update document has been produced, which aligns the rural facilities data to the new Community Partnership Area boundaries.

Both the report and the update can be found in the library of the Wiltshire and Swindon Intelligence Network web-site at : http://www.intelligencenetwork.org.uk/library.aspx. The documents are entitled 'Rural Facilities Survey 2008' and 'Rural Facilities Survey 2008, Update Document'.

LOBBYDOG: Conservative rural re-action

LOBBYDOG: was unimpressed with the Conservative’s Rural Action campaign which the party “launched” today.
Rural Action was touted as an “agenda for rural communities”. In truth it was largely made up of previously announced proposals collected in a document with “rural” written on the front.
It seemed particularly meagre as Gordon Brown was given such an ear-bashing by the Tories for wrapping up old policies in new packaging with the Building Britain’s Future plan last week....

A bit harsh or fair comment?

Speed up Business Help Call

Call to speed up rural grants

FUNDHOLDERS are too slow to issue rural grants, business leaders have warned.
Applications must be processed faster to help rural firms ride out the recession, said the Country Land and Business Association.

The call came as a raft of business grants were confirmed for the rural West Midlands.

CLA regional director Caroline Bedell said: "Any plan to help rural businesses during the recession is welcome. This grant funding could be the type of cash injection many rural areas need.

"However, our concern is, that in too many cases, it can take months for grant applications for rural development programmes to be decided on.

"What is required is a fast-track approach where those who need grants can actually receive them in a timely fashion that will help negate the impact of the recession."

Meet Phyllis Self, Britain's oldest boss - who still works at age 101 | Mail Online

Meet Phyllis Self, Britain's oldest boss - who still works at age 101 | Mail Online: "It was business as usual for Britain’s oldest boss today as she clocked in - at the age of 101.Company director Phyllis Self still works six days a week and manages the bustling garden centre business she opened in 1969.The great-grandmother puts in a 36-hour week, dealing with all correspondence, payroll, and the hiring and firing of nearly 200 staff at the Whitehall Garden Centre."

Police launch Wiltshire horse watch scheme (From This Is Wiltshire)

Police launch Wiltshire horse watch scheme (From This Is Wiltshire): "A Horse Watch scheme has been set up across Wiltshire by the newly formed Rural Crime Team which will provide members with regular updates / information, via text message or e-mail alerts, with relevant Police information affecting horse owners. This initiative follows on from the introduction of Farm Watch earlier this year.
For more information on Horse watch or the Rural Crime Team please contact PC Bordiss on: 0845 408 7000 ext 739 817 or 07968942116 or email: ruralcrimeteam@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk

CASH UP FOR GRABS FOR VILLAGES TO SET UP OWN SHOP

Community Newswire: "Villages are being invited to apply for funding of up to £40,000 to set up a community-owned shop.
The Plunkett Foundation wants to hear from any villages interested in applying to take part in the newly extended Village Core programme, which provides financial and advisory support to communities looking to set up their own shop.
One village that has taken part in the scheme is Avebury in Wiltshire, which opened its shop in March.
Dave Scattergood, chair of the Avebury Community Shop steering group, said: "As well as a shop where people can come and buy things, it is a focal point for the community. The shop has put the heart back into the village and it gives people a place to meet, have a chat and also serves as an information exchange for the village."

All Cannings, my village, has a growing and very successful community run store - an example other villages could do well to follow.