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Light at the end of the tunnel...
WE had the wettest Autumn and Winter on record for England, Wales and Ireland and the second wettest in Scotland, with February being the UK’s wettest since records began in 1862. Some counties, including Lancashire and Yorkshire, recorded more than three times the average rainfall. The implications for the farming community were going to be felt later in the year with autumn/ winter sown crops and cereals drowning in the vast lakes that formed and machinery unable to operate. There was a significant downturn in winter crop planting, forcing many farms to plant much more spring cropping, or even leave land fallow. In addition livestock had to be kept inside using up valuable winter feeds.
After all that, came the driest spring we have seen in the UK for a long time, posing problems at the other end of the scale. Climate models predict more unpredictable weather patterns in the future, begging the question: “What are we doing to our planet?” To top it all, the world was and is still subjected to the Covid19 pandemic and what a devastating affect it has had on everyone. During that surreal time some of my team worked on projects at home and cycling became the activity of choice, some cycling many miles to keep up fitness levels and their mental health.
As the planes stopped flying and the noise from vehicles reduced, out on my walks through the countryside all l had to listen to was the wonderful sound of our wildlife and the varieties of tits, blackbirds, goldfinches, sparrows, yellow wagtails, woodpeckers, and buzzards that were nesting very close by. All providing the sound backdrop to the sight of young lambs and Red Hereford calves totally unaware of what is going on around them and the oilseed rape, pea and cornflower fields. All rather different to the normal buzz and bustle of London during my normal working day. As a result of this extraordinary year, new Spring menus that l would have put in place featuring asparagus, pheasant eggs and the first English cherries and strawberries have unfortunately passed us by. However, as this Journal hits your doorstep the Club has re-opened and is serving a delicious Summer menu, with specials appearing! Looking forward to welcoming you all back to the Club and the fortunes of farming taking a positive turn.
