FARM NEWS
MPS TO RESPOND TO RURAL
COMMUNITIES REPORT
MPs are to publish the government’s response to a report
criticising its policies for rural communities.
The response is due to
be made public by the
Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs Committee on
28 November.
It follows the publication
earlier this year, of
the committee’s Rural
Communities report which
scrutinised DEFRA and its
Rural Communities Policy
Unit. “Much more needs to be
done if DEFRA is to achieve
its target of ‘fair, practical and
affordable outcomes’ for rural
residents, businesses and
communities,” the report said,
highlighting issues such as
slow broadband connections,
poor mobile phone coverage
and a lack of rural housing
provision.
Rural businesses, schools
and households had
fallen behind their urban
counterparts when it came
to broadband access. At
the same time, the lack of
mobile phone coverage in
large parts of the countryside
was unacceptable, the report
said.
The report published this
summer said that rural areas
could be worth an extra
£347bn a year to the economy
if more policies supported rural
economic development.
YORKSHIRE CHEESEMAKER
AT BIG FEASTIVAL
Artisan cheesemaker, Shepherds
Purse of Thirsk, is flying the flag for
Yorkshire at ‘Jamie Oliver & Alex
James present The Big Feastival’ –
a two day celebration of food and
music at Blur bassist and foodie,
James’ Oxfordshire farm.
The dairy is showcasing a selection
of award-winning cheeses at the
event. One of just three small cheese
producers at the festival – it will be the
only one from Yorkshire.
Cheese enthusiasts will get to taste
regional specialities such as Yorkshire
Blue, Harrogate Blue, Mrs Bells Blue,
Buffalo Blue, Yorkshire Fettle, Yorkshire
Ryedale and Olde York. The products
are a selection of cow’s, buffalo and
ewe’s milk white and blue cheeses.
Company directors, Katie Matten and
Caroline Bell, say they are not only
looking for feedback on the flavours,
but also on the company’s new look
logo and packaging.
G091002A 64x190 (FW)_G091002A 30/08/2013 15:47 Page 1
‘A selection of cow’s,
buffalo and ewe’s
milk white and
blue cheeses’
Shepherds Purse, which was
launched in 1989 by their mother, Judy
Bell, has gone through a complete
rebrand since the sisters took over dayto-day running of the family business.
A breath of fresh air
BAYSCREEN
superior ventilation
outstanding weather protection
lighter environment
farm assured
a better solution than space boarding
01531 637900
8
Oct/Nov 2013 FarmersMart
www.galebreaker.com
To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk