Latest news with #Allensmore
BBC News
07-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Young Herefordshire farmer took over family business after death of her father
"I was working on my placement year, a normal day. And then I got a phone call [to say] my dad had passed away. And, from that day on I just ended up farming."Aged 17, Jo Lawrence became one of the UK's youngest ever farmers following the death of her father Bob, 50, in was thrown into a new world of 18-hour days, along with her younger brother Fred, looking after sheep and cattle and harvesting fodder on the fourth-generation family farm in Allensmore, Jo and her brother had different ideas for the farm, but the plan was for them to run it together in the aftermath of their loss. "He liked tractors, I liked stock. He wanted more arable I wanted more stock," Ms Lawrence then, in September 2022, 20-year-old Fred was tragically killed in a car accident."Now it's just me. Carrying on for them," she 25-year-old now single-handedly runs the 200-acre beef and sheep farm, standing in tribute to her father and younger brother. The last year has been a particular challenge for Ms Lawrence, with the farm currently enduring an extended dry spell. The amount of fodder needed for the animals is significantly down and the grass in the fields is dry and lacking is less than a quarter of the usual harvest, all due to the dry weather, and Ms Lawrence knows getting through the next few months and the winter is going to be a challenge."But all farmers are in the same boat. We'll have to find fodder from somewhere and buy it in," she said. As a young female farmer, Ms Lawrence is still unique in the world of agriculture. More than 40% of farmers are over the age of 65 and just 16% are women, according to government is also mum to three-year-old daughter, Pippa, and six months pregnant with her second asked if she would want her children to carry on farming and become the fifth generation to do so, she said: "She can do whatever she wants to do. She currently wants to be a ballerina.""To grow up on a farm is really special. I was really lucky I had so much time with my dad before we lost him. "I was with him every day. But it's a hard industry and getting harder". Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
BMW motorcyclist, 70, dies after crash with Citroën in Herefordshire country road
A motorcyclist has died after colliding with a car on a country road. The man was riding a BMW bike on the A465 near Allensmore, south of Hereford, on Saturday, July 12. The motorcyclist came into contact with a Citroën C3 at around 8.40am. READ MORE: Delays continue at Birmingham station as cause of problems revealed The 70-year-old rider was confirmed to have died at the scene. The driver of the Citroën, a woman in her 60s. suffered serious injuries and was taken to Hereford County Hospital. Now West Mercia Police is appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join A spokesperson for the force said: 'Officers are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Herefordshire yesterday morning. 'The collision happened around 8:40am on the A465 near Allensmore, when a BMW motorbike collided with a Citroen C3. 'Sadly, the motorcyclist, a man in his 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. 'The woman driving the Citroen, a woman in her 60s, was taken to Hereford County Hospital with serious injuries.' Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox The spokesperson continued: 'Officers would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision and from drivers who have dashcam footage from around the time it happened. 'Please contact PC Foster by emailing:
