ON yet another glorious sunny day in County Durham during the very dry April , I found myself driving down a traditional dusty track towards Ricknall Grange Farm , home of Julie and Gordon Sedgewick . Showing me the way was their son , Tim , who I had met as he came from his cottage at the top of the lane .

Having only briefly met Julie before at an NSA North Sheep event and spoken on the phone , I was very keen to find out more about not only Julie and her association with all things sheep , but also the important farming side of her life .

My intrigue was very well placed as there is a remarkable level of achievement by Julie and Gordon , given the fact that the current business was only started from scratch back in 1995 . Son Tim and his wife Jess are now partners in the business - but more of that later .

Julie comes from a farming family in Bishop Auckland . When she left school , she used to help her father in the office and was one of the few women at that time who had a permit to train racehorses . Julie really has been a trail blazer and champion for women in agriculture . In the 80 ’ s and 90 ’ s there were very few , if any , women working in farming .

Julie started her career back in the 1980 ’ s when she started buying and promoting north of England mule sheep with her family . They used to sell shearlings ; Julie also helped rear calves for her father ’ s suckler herd .

She has really been a pioneer and example for women in agriculture , particularly with sheep , where she is undoubtably an expert having been Regional Manager for NSA Northern Region from 1989 to 2016 , organiser for NSA North Sheep event for 25 years . She was even involved with NSA Scotsheep as well , as co-organiser , from 2004 to 2012 . Utilising her not inconsiderable expertise , the National Sheep Association asked her to get involved with the resurrection of the National Sheep Event at Malvern , turning the event into a profit-making venture - largely by involving the right people who wanted to do the show and see it a success .

She is internationally recognised within the sheep industry , winning the George Hedley Memorial Award for services to the sheep industry in 2016 , previously won by HRH Prince Charles . She was also awarded the Iain Allinson Memorial Award for services to the Northern Sheep Industry in 2016 . In addition to this , Julie sits as Treasurer on the voluntary Co Durham Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute committee . R . A . B . I .) the farming charity .

After leaving the NSA , Julie focussed on doing all the farm ’ s books and continuing to develop the cattle herd , whilst husband Gordon spent the greater part of his time working with their large sheep flock and other enterprises .

Gordon also comes from a local farming family in Sedgefield , T Sedgewick & Sons at Hope House Farm , Sedgefield . He has

spent all his working life in farming , loving the hands-on approach and is always looking for new opportunities to generate revenue . He is also passionate about preserving the natural environment . It is often said that Gordon has an encyclopaedic knowledge of landscape systems .

Gordon and Julie ’ s only son Tim was born in 1988 . Although Tim loved the farming way of life , getting involved with the cows and lambing etc , both Gordon and Julie felt at the time that there wasn ’ t a strong enough future for Tim in farming , so they guided him down the educational route . However , it is no surprise that he didn ’ t stray far from the world of farming . He studied at Harper Adams University and is now a rural chartered surveyor , being an RICS and CAAV member . He is currently an Associate Director and Head of Land Agency ( North East & Yorkshire at H & H Land & Estates , operating out of their Durham City office . He has won a

number of awards including the prestigious Talbot Ponsonby Prize , which is awarded annually to the candidate who achieves the highest marks in the Central Association of Agricultural Valuer ( CAAV ) examinations . He also won the Alistair Turnbull Trophy and N B Stephenson Award . Tim is passionate about the countryside , environment and progressing rural business . He is married to Jessica , who is Business and Finance Manager for ALM Engineering at Newton Aycliffe . Jess is expecting their first child in August .

So , having taken a brief look at the Sedgewick family , now let us look at the development of the business from 1995 to now .

In 1995 , Binchester Hall Farm became available to rent , and as Gordon and Julie had always wanted their own farm they pitched for the tenancy and got it . The

Continued on page 34