|
Northamptonshire - Trish OsborneOur visit to Adams Bakery was postponed until later in the year. Willoughby Foods Ltd Early in May, 4 members traveled over the county borders to Boston in Lincolnshire to visit Willoughby Foods Ltd, set up by Alison and Stuart Ashton. The Ashton's are farmers and also have a butcher's shop as well as the catering business at Wyberton, just outside Boston. We were particularly interested in the provision of hot school meals, prepared in the kitchens of Willoughby Foods and delivered to schools in the area. Here, we met Mark the Head Chef (ex Army Chef) and his assistant chef, and staff and toured the excellent, modern facility. The meals are devised in accordance with Government guidelines and also using feedback from the children and schools.
The meals were prepared and cooked at this site and at a Catering College and a school locally. Everything needed, except for tables and chairs, is then systematically loaded up and delivered to the various schools, the trays and cutlery being returned to the kitchens to be washed ready for the next day. We were invited to visit one such school where we talked to some of the children and staff before returning to the kitchens to enjoy the same meal; Lincolnshire sausages and mash with a choice of fresh vegetables, all beautifully cooked. May 2008 Update Heygates Ltd is a well known site; its towering mills easily seen from the M1 in Northamptonshire. The Heygate family have farmed the land since 1562 and the existence of a Mill on the site was recorded in the Doomsday Book, the Heygate family taking it over in the late 19th century There are now 6 mills, on 3 sites; Bugbrooke, Tring and Downham Market milling over 350,000 Tonnes of wheat between them per year.
The Bugbooke Mill, which we visited in March, is responsible for the group's biggest flour output - over 200,000 tons of wheat is milled annually, resulting in 150,000 tons of flour. This is mainly for bread production, including a large share of Fine Lady Bakery's needs, but is also for biscuit manufacturers and other specialist areas. Members enjoyed a tour around the mills, several of whom have visited with various groups over the years, and there is always something new to see as the company develops its products to suit its clients. In April we visited the Milton Keynes Museum on the recommendation of one of our members whose husband has played a large part in its inception and growth when it was founded in 1973 when a group of local people began to collect items found in farms and factories that were being closed down to make way for the development of Milton Keynes. There was far too much to see in one evening but we had a fascinating tour guided by the Director of the Museum.
Seven members made the trip to Bridgend for the Conference. Congratulations to Ionwen and Sally and her team for an excellent line up of speakers and a most interesting visit to the Welsh Assembly where we were made to feel most welcome. As ever it was great to meet up with members from across the country.  Our future meetings include a visit to the Oliver Adams Bakery in Northampton which follows on nicely from our trip to Heygates as Adams use Heygates flour! In June we are visiting a garden and July continues our history theme at Jeyes Museum of Village Life at Earls Barton Farmhouse Breakfast Week - January 2008 This year Northamptonshire members went into the Northampton Town Football Club Study Centre to talk to groups of children about Breakfast and give them bacon/sausage rolls, cereals, juice and an apple on Wednesday, 23rd January. September 2007 Update A talk about the intricacies of the very successful re-introduction of the Red Kite to the area of Northamptonshire known as Rockingham Forest at our March meeting was followed in April by a visit to Stowe School Beagle Kennels.
At Stowe Beagle Kennels Mr & Mrs Kennedy explained the kennel routine during the school year and the involvement of the boys who are given the opportunity to take part and learn about country sports.
Six members attended the Conference at Felsted.
Members joined the W.I. at Daventry in their campaign to support the Dairy Industry where a panel of speakers faced an audience of farmers and consumers. We also took the opportunity to promote cheese at this event. A small group of Northants members met up for an evening at Towcester Races in and in June, members visited Steane Park Garden; a beautiful and inspiring Northamptonshire garden having been restored and extended in recent years. Another garden was visited and admired by a few members who attended the Addington Fund visit to the Barnowl Herd of Pedigree Jerseys, enjoyed a fantastic lunch and an afternoon stroll around Hill Grounds. Our July visit took us to Hargrave near Wellingborough to the LEAF demonstration farm. In addition to a farm walk, we heard all about the Farrington family's brand of cold pressed oilseed rape oil; 'Mellow Yellow' from its inception to the recent installation of a new larger press. Look out for the brand name and check out their website for a list of your local suppliers. www.farrington-oils.co.uk
Visitors to our stand at the Dragon Boat Festival Our cheese promotions centred on the Rotary Dragon Boat Festival and the three day Northampton Balloon Festival, where a good range of cheeses tempted visitors to try each variety and gave us the chance to talk about cheese production and the dairy industry in Britain.
Members, Jane Arblaster and Caroline Kellner, promoting cheese at the Northampton Balloon Festival Farming in the Classroom visits have been made and several members have renewed their Food Hygiene Certificates. Our autumn meetings began with an enlightening talk from Permoganics Ltd; based on the outskirts of Northampton. a not-for-profit co-op which aims to provide access to locally grown organic produce. www.permorganics.org.uk. Members travelled to Buckingham University to hear NFU President speak on 'Why Farming Matters' and a talk by the Potato Council and a demonstration of Christmas Flower arrangements take us to the end of 2007. Our AGM will be held on Wednesday, 16th January 2008. Calling all local food projects in Northamptonshire A fantastic opportunity to promote and display information about your food project to the public and visiting food lovers at the Holdenby food show, in Northamptonshire. Holdenby food show is taking place on the 26 & 27 August 2007. This new event is showcasing the best that the region has to offer in the food and drink market. You will be able to display information, produce, past work etc free of charge, although you will need to provide any tables you may require. For details please contact caroline@stonehouse-events.co.uk or Stonehouse Events Office 01604 820011 or for a booking form visit Stonehouse Events Ltd. Supermarkets sourcing local food 16 May 2007
Northants food producer alert Northamptonshire Food Group is compiling a trade directory to bring up to date information about the county’s local produce and suppliers to the attention of buyers from across the food chain, including catering, hospitality, tourism, retail and manufacturing. The first of its kind covering the county, the directory builds on a growing interest in sourcing local food and drink and will be a useful resource for trade buyers in Northamptonshire and beyond. It’s nearing the final stage of completion, but there’s still time to make sure your business is included if you’re interested in attracting more trade customers. Entries for businesses based in Northamptonshire and those supplying or distributing Northamptonshire products are free of charge, so if you want to reach trade buyers across the county and beyond, fill in your information now as the deadline for going to print is looming and send it to: Northamptonshire Food Group; C/o The Food & Drink Forum Ltd; Unit 29; New Brook House; 385 Alfreton Road; Nottingham NG7 5LR In February, we are to experience an evening of T'ai Chi and we look forward to a busy programme ahead. Farmhouse Breakfast Week - 21st January - 28th Janauary 2007 Our Farmhouse Breakfast Event was held at the Study Centre at the Northampton Saints Rugby Club, Northampton. The Study Centre is an educational facility funded by the DfES, Northants County Council and Northampton Saints. Children attend 10 week courses of one session a week and take part in numeracy and literacy based fun IT activities and play rugby. They also have sessions on healthy eating and we felt our Farmhouse Breakfast event would re-enforce what is being taught by the Centre Staff. We provided bacon and sausage roll, or eggs; apple juice and the children took home a packet of Oatibix, a Russet apple and the breakfast recipe book.  The food items were all sourced locally. (Adams Bakery - rolls. Farmhouse Meats - bacon. Saul's of Spratton - sausages. Weetabix - Oatibix, A W Duncombe & Son - apples) Together with Jeanette Campion of the Study Centre, we talked to the children about the importance of eating a good breakfast and where our food comes from... Some of the children produced posters on the Centre's computers on the Farmhouse Breakfast theme. AGM - January 2007
RASE Library at the Arthur Rank Centre Member's Supper - November 2006 In November we welcomed Ionwen to our Member's Supper giving those members who have not already met our President chance to have an informal chat. Our next meeting will be our AGM in January. WFU AGM In October, 12 members travelled up to Chesterfield and joined by Norfolk members Felicity & Simon Daniels, we walked into the town, passing the famous crooked spire of St Mary and All Saints on our way to enjoy an excellent evening meal. A short drive the next morning found us in the beautiful parkland of Chatsworth for the excellent tour of the estate and farm shop and the AGM. A very successful day! Foundations - October 2006 October found us discussing our 'foundations' when a speaker brought along her collection of lingerie and we were reminded of those liberty bodices we all used to wear! Library at the Arthur Rank Centre, 12th September 2006 In September, we were invited to visit the RASE Library at the Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh. Mr Philip Sheppy had taken a great deal of time preparing for our visit by selecting books and catalogues relating to Northamptonshire and which he felt would be of particular interest to us, as they indeed proved to be. The Library is open to all and we would recommend a visit to this marvellous archive of the RASE and farming over the centuries. Mr Sheppy is currently assembling a Foot & Mouth archive and there were some very harrowing and moving items. We also heard about the work of the Arthur Rank Centre and the future of the RASE. Prior to our Library visit, we were treated to an excellent lunch at the ARC Addington Fund, where we learnt more about this worthwhile charity and met the Staff and Trustees. Our thanks to WFU Member Sue Eeley for inviting us and to Warwickshire members for joining us and providing a welcome cup of tea before our journey home. Asda Fun Day Our cheese promotion this year took us to the Asda Fun Day, Dragon Boat Festival and the three day Northampton Balloon Festival. Both events have free entry to the public and we had a constant stream of visitors to our stand, sampling the different varieties of cheese and discussing recipes and cheese making. Belvoir Castle We have again been lucky enough to share an outing with Lincolnshire when we were invited to join them at Belvoir Castle. After a welcome from the Duchess of Rutland, we enjoyed a tour of the gardens and an excellent meal at the nearby Manners Arms. Thank you Lincolnshire. WiRE East Midland Newsletter August 2006 Northamptonshire News - 27th June 2006 Northants Member Mrs Margaret Smith hosted our April Meeting when we visited her family run Farm Shop on the outskirts of Northampton. We had a walk around the asparagus fields before entering the impressive shop where, beautifully displayed, fresh fruits and vegetables, preserves, poultry and meats, cakes and pies, plus a frozen foods section, and a lot more besides. Margaret told us how she and her late husband had started out and how the business had changed and developed over the years. In May, another Member hosted our meeting. Julia Hawes and her husband Jim showed us around their farm where they run free range, Columbian Blacktail chickens to supply eggs to Waitrose. We saw the moveable housing, how the eggs are collected and learnt of the routine and cycle of egg production to organic standard. Afterwards we enjoyed refreshments and quiche, made of course from the eggs! Our day out in June took us into Oxford where we experienced a very leisurely trip along the Isis in chauffeured punts, complete with sparkling wine - a little early in the day but we coped! We lunched and then had a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens and greenhouses. A very relaxing and enjoyable day. We shall attend the two-day Northampton Dragon Boat Festival in July and the Northampton Balloon Festival in August for the 'Choose Cheese' campaign.
WiRE East Midland Newsletter May/June 2006 Cross Compliance Farm Walk - 20th June 2006 The walk begins at 10.30am and 1.30pm and will be practical and informal with plenty of opportunity for questions and answers. Places on these workshops are limited so please book as soon as possible by telephoning the cross compliance helpline on 0845 345 1302. News Update - 12th April 2006 Liz Haycock and Trish Osborne attended a Defra TB Consultation Meeting at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. A lively discussion was held on the implications of TB in this country and the implementation of the new rules to kerb the spread of TB and the culling of badgers and other infected wild life. They also attended a FACE Seminar at the Rural Living Museum at Reading University discussing the relevance of the history of rural life and farming to the National Curriculum. Liz & Trish then enjoyed a tour of the new museum. Eight Northants members attended the Conference with a further three joining us for the Conference Day. Congratulations and thanks to The Warwickshire team for a superb and thought provoking conference. Our April meeting is a visit to an Oxfordshire Bakery and in May we hope to visit a local Chicken Farm and look forward to our day out in June when we visit the Botanical Gardens at Oxford and go punting on the Thames! Agricultural & Horticultural Waste Regulations - 11th April 2006
Tuesday 23 May
Please reply to Laura Harrison on 01572 824264 or laura.harrison@nfu.org.uk Young Countryside Alliance
Northants Food Group - Local Food & Hospitality event Recent research is revealing a growing interest in increasing the range of local products county-based hospitality businesses sell and serve and a desire to know about good suppliers in the county. The NFG wants to bring these potential buyers together with Northants producers. An event called "Local Food & Hospitality - a great combination!" will be held on Wednesday 29 March 2006 at Highgate House in Creaton free of charge for Northants based suppliers. To attend this event or for details of how to exhibit your produce, please contact East Midlands Fine Foods on 01158 758892 Newsletter - 14th March 2006 Freedom Foods. Trafalgar Day 'Ladies in Pigs' Towcester and Brackley Farmer's Markets WFU AGM Northamptonshire AGM Farmhouse Breakfast
The managing Director and Bakery Manager of Oliver Adams and Mrs Jean Gammons of Farmhouse Meats joined us. We had good press coverage with photos in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo evening paper and the Northampton free press.  Mr Tom Adams from the bakery has sponsored us every year by providing rolls. It is a large bakery in Northampton supply numerous of their own shops in the town and district. They use locally milled flour whenever they can. Farmhouse Meats is a relatively new Company providing good quality meats to the public and trade and Mr Gammons is currently developing a 'Northamptonshire Sausage' which he hopes to market soon. As mentioned our own member Margaret Smith not only came along to help but provided the most scrumptious Gala apples which went down a treat.  Waitrose & Vexillology Northants members are looking forward to the Conference and meeting up with old friends and new. See you there! The Northampton Balloon Festival
 September will see us back to base with a talk by a representative of Freedom Foods, in October we hope to visit a local supermarket and in December we welcome 'Ladies in Pigs' for an opening evening. Report of Activities July 2005 WFU Conference 2005
Purston Alpacas
 On a pleasant spring evening, we enjoyed a walk around the farm to see the Alpacas grazing and were introduced to the stud males, which we very impressive, and the first cria (calf) of the season. Traidcraft Rotary Club's Fair 
Organic Farm 
Silverstone  We visited Silverstone Circuit and had a tour of the facilities as staff prepared for the British Grand Prix and enjoyed a roast beef lunch in the impressive B.R.D.C's club house.  From there we went on to see Barbara Smith's Pedigree Texel Flock and B & B business and then to Mr Peter Donger's award winning Charollais Herd and Suckler herd of Salers. This was followed by a tour around another of our members; Alison Brown's farm to see her Gloucester Old Spots, Dexter Herd and rare breeds sheep and where on the most beautiful early summer evening had supper in the garden.  A very enjoyable day! Royal Show Northampton Balloon Festival Linda Humphrys
Cross Compliance Farm Walks
July 2005
Specialist advisers will cover:
All farm walk sessions start promptly at 10.30am or 1.30pm To register call the cross compliance helpline on 0845 345 1302. Dates & Farm Location
Access seminars
Our AGM was held on 12th January and was well supported with 14 Members attending. Trish Osborne, who remains in the Chair, gave her report of the year and thanked the Members for their support. The business was followed by a most interesting and amusing talk by Mrs Helen Brodie of The Old Dairy Farm Centre. Helen told us about her family's farm 'diversification' and how a love of antiques and home baking led to turning barns into a Craft and Antique Centre some 18 years ago and how it developed to incorporate lambing weekends, school visits and a successful restaurant. We also heard some of the more amusing incidents, and the ups and downs of establishing and running a rural business. Farmhouse Breakfast
The carpenters enjoy their breakfast
WFU members demostrate the farmhouse breakfast Our AGM will be held on 12th January 2005 and we look forward to a busy and eventful 2005! 'Prue's New Country Cooking' Northamptonshire member, Prue Coats, has recently published a revised version of her cookbook, 'Prue's New Country Cooking' which was first published in 1997. Prue is a staunch supporter of farming, the countryside, country sports, in fact anything to do with the country and is keen to promote local and good foods. The book is full of super recipes for everything from soups and starters, game cooking, family meals, preserving & drinks, with amusing anecdotes and explanations to each recipe. At the rear of the book is a list of useful addresses and in this she has included WFU. Northamptonshire News - November 2004 'Perfect Picnic'
Autumn Programme
In October we visited The Windmill Vineyard at Hellidon. Doreen Hillyer had given us a talk some time previously and it was most interesting the see the vines actually growing and laden with grapes - especially as our visit was on a typically cold, wet autumnal evening. We retreated to the sanctuary of the windmill where we tasted several of the wines produced by Doreen and her husband, everything from white and red wine from the vines to Country Wines, such as Damson, Cherry and Mead all produced and bottled on site. We heard about the problems of labelling under EEC regulations and the arguments for and against the use of real cork and plastic or screw tops. Doreen also sells herbs and plants, planters and containers in the small shop open to the public. WFU AGM Eleven members attended the Houses of Parliament for the tour, Reception and AGM at the Houses of Parliament and went on to enjoy a meal and a show. Thank you to Sue Archer and helpers for arranging such an enjoyable day. Open Meeting
Trish, Liz and Jan have been kept busy with 'Farming in the Classroom' and have visited 5 schools this autumn and Sue and Pat attended the Dairy Event to promote cheese. NFU ROADSHOWS in Northamptonshire - May 2004 Tuesday 11 May - Boughton House Schools Open Day, Boughton, Kettering, Northants
 Northamptonshire members enjoy the WFU 2004 Annual Conference in Pembrokeshire! Programme for 2004:
Breakfast at Blakesley School with the Junior school pupils.
.........and with the Infants
Report of the year 2003 After the busy summer months our September meeting was a relaxing trip back in time as we visited Wellesbourne Watermill just over the county border in Warwickshire. Here we saw the huge wooden waterwheel and beautifully restored machinery in action and flour milled in the traditional way. This award-winning mill (as seen on TV!) is a step back in time and has been lovingly restored and maintained. Our visit concluded with a ploughman's supper and a chance to buy stoneground floor and semolina. We were joined by some of our Warwickshire friends and had a most pleasant evening. In October, back at our base, we had an informative and interesting talk by a local silversmith and took along various pieces of silverware and jewellery. Our speaker is very knowledgeable and told us a little of the history of silverware and gave us tips on identifying and dating silver items. He also brought along some items he had made and his wonderful collection of brooches, many of which were Victorian keepsakes. It was a fascinating evening. October also saw eight of our members travelling to Nairn for the World Rural Women's Day Conference and a warm welcome from the Alba branch. The conference speakers were knowledgeable, informative and inspiring and we are grateful to them for giving up their time to share their experiences with us. The food, facilities and atmosphere at the conference were all wonderful but most importantly, it was a chance to meet and talk to other like minded woman with a shared passion for their livelihood and communities. Sincere thanks to Debbie McBean for organising the conference and the trip to Aviemore and the Funicular Railway for those of us who were able to stay on until Friday afternoon - a lovely end to our stay. One of our Members (and past chairman) is a Marie Curie nurse and tireless fundraiser for the Charity and our Branch decided to plant a 'Field of Hope' on the anniversary of Marie Curie's birthday on 7th November. We found sponsors, bulbs and a willing digger driver and have planted 1000 plus daffodil bulbs along the verge on the road into the village of Tiffield, near Towcester. The official planting ceremony was followed by a simple lunch of British produce for our sponsors, guests and members, comprising soups, quiche and fruit. We hope the resulting spring blooms will help brighten everyone's life. Also in November we shall all become artists when we are to be taught the basics of watercolour painting! Three of our Members continue to go into schools, local and not so local, urban and rural with displays and samples to talk to the children for 'Farming in the Classroom'. These talks always prove popular with the children and we work hard to promote this area of WFU. Several members are taking part in the Projectline Apple survey of local supermarkets with interesting and varied results. We are a thriving branch of some 28 members, not all of which farm themselves but are all committed to promoting British food and farming whilst enjoying the companionship and support WFU brings. Rural enterprise - find out all about it! A series of Rural Enterprise Seminars is being staged by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) with the support of Barclays Agricultural Banking and East Midlands NFU, in November. Each event starts at 6.00 for 6.30pm and is free for farm businesses in the region. You will have the chance to put your questions to a panel of experts on a wide variety of diversification topics. To register, contact Lucie Hammond at Barclays Agricultural Banking, telephone 01636 663817. These events are at: * Brooksby College, Melton Mowbray on Wednesday 12 November * Whittlebury Hall, Towcester on Thursday 27 November. * Cranford Hall, Kettering on Thursday 30m November, 11am - 4 pm. Planned CAP Reform Meetings for farmers The NFU have planned and booked venues for a series of road shows around the region in early July to discuss CAP reform. They are all evening meetings (Times to be confirmed), provisional details are as follows: Leics/Northants/Rutland - Wednesday 16 July. Jubilee Hall, Market Harborough Congregational Church Centre. PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR EMPLOYEES Essential legal update for businesses on Employment and Health & Safety Law 11 July. Northampton Marriott Hotel 9am-5pm. Contact Events Team, Northampton Chamber, Tel 01604 671200 for further details. Strawberry Day 2003
www.wfu.org.uk |
The'Farmhouse Breakfast' promotion took us to the Construction and Trades Academy at Pitts Farm, Silverstone (an offshoot of Moulton Agricultural College). Here we provided bacon and sausage baps for some 300 students, young and older, over 4 sessions; two mornings and two evenings during the week. The bacon was sponsored by the village butcher, Mr Colin King and the sausages by our own member, Alison Brown who rears Gloucester Old Spots. These sausages proved to be very popular! The baps were provided by local bakers Oliver Adams Ltd who use flour produced by local millers, Heygates & Sons Ltd.
