stouravonmagazine.co.uk
8 New Stour & Avon, June 3, 2022
Letters
Why not support home-grown food? Why are we not supporting home grown in this unstable world? As a Dorset farmer’s daughter and wife, a few weeks ago in Catering Magazine, I was sad to read it welcoming in the Australian larder that the British Government signed us up to back in December. We British farmers knew very little about this trade deal that the Government was signing us into and it goes against everything that we are trying to do. We should all be asking our own citizens to eat and support local food. Yes, Australian farmers produce excellent Wagyu beef and their lamb is also very good, but no better than the home-reared meat of the farmers right here on our doorstep. At Rawston Farm, we carried out our own survey last Easter to discover that imported lamb was more expensive than our local English option.
It makes no sense to choose the imported option. Yes, our fruits are not as exotic as our Australian cousins, but when British apples, pears, raspberries and strawberries are in season, they are some of the best in the world. What other things do we produce in the UK that are forgotten in these strategic trade deals? Sugar beet and awardwinning wines for a start. And as the home of whisky, why are we importing that too? The Government says prices are lower and the supply chain better, but flying food and drinks 9,445 miles and then paying our own farmers to re-wild and plant trees rather than cultivate food is ridiculous. Food from home is the safest choice to feed the population in the wake of Brexit, Covid and now the war in Ukraine. We are faced with the strong possibility of running out of sunflower oil as Ukraine is
Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk
one of its’ biggest producers and this is just one example. Producing food on home soil from some of the most talented farmers, fishermen and food producers in the
world is not only safer and more sensible, it’s morally and ethically responsible to the people of the UK. Barbara Cossins Blandford
Please come and enjoy our fundraising garden parties This year we have two charity events to raise funds for the MS Centre at West Parley, Dorset Cancer Care at Poole and for Wimborne Scouts. As usual each event includes a brass band attraction. Over the past 10 years ‘Brackenwood’ has raised more than £20,000 for local charities and hospitals and has also beens shortlisted for the Daily Mail National Gardens in 2016. On Sunday, June 26, we have a Garden Party with Cream Tea and Cakes, starting at 1pm. Attractions will include: Brass In Harmony
Classic British Bikes on display Lakeside walk Fernery Tombola Arts & Crafts Plants. There is easy parking, wheelchair access and dogs on a lead are welcome. This is in aid of the MS Centre at West Parley. On Sunday, July 24, we have another Garden Party with Cream Tea and Cakes from 1pm. This will be in aid of Dorset Cancer Care at Poole and Wimborne Scout Group.
Attractions will include: Bournemouth & District Concert Band Lakeside walk Fernery Tombola Arts & Crafts Plants Brackenwood is located at God’s Blessing Green, Holt, Wimborne, BH21 7DD. (It is near Stewarts Garden Centre, Broomhill). For more information, please contact me on 01202 885685. Fay Clifford West Parley
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