News
New Kendal Mark Under Way!
Chris Berry reports on a major development in Westmorland
It’s taken a decade of discussion, negotiation, much heartache and planning but the move of Kendal Mart from its Sandylands Lane location in the town is now under way.
One year from now the brand new, state-of-the-art livestock market and rural business centre will open near to the Crooklands roundabout, just yards from the M6.
Adam Day, managing director of North West Auctions, was in ebullient mood as MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale Tim Farron made time to come along and cut the first sod of earth to set the process under way:
‘This is a very exciting day not only for the company but for the farmers we serve in the South Lakes and North Lancashire. Our long term business plan is both positive and prudent. We are looking to expand as much as we can and turn the new site into a 7-day a week facility. There is a great deal of positivity and confidence in livestock at present and we aim to capitalise on that whilst exploring every avenue of business open to us.’
Tim Farron has worked with Kendal Mart for much of the time they have been searching for the right move:
‘It has taken years to get to this stage and this was probably the last throw of the dice in keeping the mart in our wonderfully historic and iconic county of Westmorland. Inevitably any development is never going to be in the right place for those who live there but here we have found a location that is perfect. It is easily accessible via both the M6 and A65 and it is a win-win for the people of Kendal. The bottom line was that Kendal Mart’s location in the town was at the wrong side of town and made life difficult for residents who lived close by. The current mart site will now be developed and half of the homes built on the four and a half acres will be built as affordable housing, something that we desperately need here when the average house price is £250,000 but the average income is just £18,000.’
Somewhat ironically this site was the first that was looked at ten years ago. The land has been purchased from local farmer George Robinson who has kept a low profile during negotiations.
‘Ten years ago my two sons were at home farming, but our circumstances have changed. I no longer run a dairy herd as the costs of renewing milking parlour equipment were too high. I’ve sold around 26 acres to the mart.’
Trevor Wilson is a farmer and one of the eight directors of the L&K Group which runs both Lancaster and Kendal livestock markets. He believes the move to the Crooklands site is exactly right:
‘We’ve been 10 years with the battle of finding the right place. We tried to get the site at Deepthwaite as many people will know but I think not getting it was now a blessing in disguise. If you had a pin and could pick an ideal location for a livestock market throughout the whole of the country I think this would be in the top three. It is a real key artery and will allow us to promote the best of British and North West agriculture. It’s been a long time coming – but now we’re on our way!’
Yorkshire Big Breakfast beano nets £3,350
Yorkshire’s annual Farmhouse Big Breakfast charity fund-raiser this year realised £3,350.
A total of 213 breakfasts, both using and promoting locally produced food, were cooked and served up over six sittings at the three-day event, held at St George’s Court B&B,Old Home Farm, High Grantley, Ripon. (Jan 25-27)
Hosted by owners Will and Lindsey Hitchen, it was organised and staged by the Harrogate and Nidderdale Group of Farm Stay UK, the country’s largest network of farm-based accommodation providers.
Over the years, Yorkshire Farmhouse Big Breakfast has raised thousands of pounds for charity. This year’s proceeds are being split between the ARC-Addington Fund’s Strategic Rural Housing Scheme and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the ARC-Addington Fund supports hard-hit farming families and communities. In North Yorkshire alone, the charity has distributed 1,400 grants totalling over £680,000.
The majority was handed out both during and after the first foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001/2002, with further grants awarded in 2007 following the floods and second foot and mouth outbreak.
Fund director Ian Bell OBE said: “In addition, since 2008, almost £6,000 has been distributed to help North Yorkshire farmers and their families experiencing financial difficulties completely out of their control.
“We have also purchased seven properties in the area for families needing to retire or exit their farms, who have had no other options available to them. We urge other farming families across the region who may be experiencing similar problems to get in touch with us, as we may well be able to help and support them.
“The financial input we receive from events such as Yorkshire Big Breakfast is invaluable.”
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides a life-saving rapid response service to over five million people across the county, flying seven days a week, 365 days a year. It needs to raise £7,200 a day to keep both its ambulances in the air and maintained.
“The generosity we receive is the lifeblood of the charity – without it we would not be able to provide the service we are so proud of,” said Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s North Yorkshire development officer Tony Doveston.
Maggie Johnson, Harrogate and Nidderdale Farm Stay Group chairman, who runs Mallard Grange B&B at Aldfield, said: “It was a great team effort and also proved a valuable networking opportunity for Farm Stay members to foster links with local tourism bodies and attractions who attended the breakfast. Our warm thanks go to all who supported us.”
Main sponsor of the 2011 Big Breakfast was Brian Elsworth, of EuraAudit UK, Ripon. Others sponsors, supporters and food donators included Bleikers Smokehouse, Glasshouses, Harrogate, Harrogate Spa Water, High Callis Organic Farm, Bishop Wilton, York, Chippindale Foods, Harrogate, Paynes Farm Dairies, Boroughbridge, Anna’s Happy Trotters, Howden, Selby, and Longley Farm Yoghurts, Holmfirth.
The ARC-Addington Fund has also received a £900 boost from REAL Food and Farming, the proceeds raised at last year’s annual Kilnsey Show
REAL’s 2010 show village featured a children’s educational area, cookery theatre with local food master classes led by five of Yorkshire’s best-known chefs and a Northern Dales Farmers Markets’ food tent.
Beef Expo 2011 offers crucial opportunity for UK beef farmers
This year’s Beef Expo 2011, organised by the National Beef Association with Lloyds TSB Agriculture as major sponsors, to be held at Newark Showground on Thursday 26 May, will offer farmers attending the event the chance to forge a route to profit.
As ever, the event will play host to a wide variety of trade stands and demonstrations from across the beef sector all aimed at helping farmers maximise their enterprise profitability.
Beef farmers visiting the event will be able to learn about the latest developments in genetics, nutrition, husbandry, machinery and marketing to help them run an efficient and profitable beef farming business, explains event chairperson Rachel Gascoine, a director or Newark Livestock Market.
“This year’s Beef Expo really will be a one-stop shop for everything beef farmers need to know to help make their businesses profitable for long into the future. With feed, fuel and fertiliser costs all rising, this is a critical time for the beef industry.”
“And, with the significant rises in input costs seen in recent months there has never been a more economically challenging time for beef production.
“The latest costings from EBLEX, QMS and HCC all show that most beef farmers are struggling to make ends meet. Beef Expo 2011 comes at a time when the thirst for knowledge in the sector is at its highest with beef farmers eager to see the latest innovations which could help them on the road to profitability.”
Speaking on behalf of the major sponsor Gareth Oakley, Agriculture Director for Lloyds TSB Agriculture and Bank of Scotland said the event would come at a critical time for many beef businesses. “With a growing population demanding more food the underlying prospects for the beef sector look promising over the long term.
“But other factors such as CAP reform and input costs volatility will undoubtedly impact individual businesses. Against this backdrop it will be important to ensure a business-like approach is taken towards the planning and managing of the farm business - it could make a tangible difference to the profitability of many livestock units in the future.
“Lloyds TSB Agriculture is once again the major sponsor of Beef Expo because we recognise its importance as a source of valuable information and practical advice for those working in the sector. A visit to Newark on May 26 is a must do in the 2011 farming calendar.”
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