Latest news with #NationalTrust
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Young farmers need more help, TV show winner says
A woman who won the opportunity to rent a farm for 15 years on a hit TV programme has called for more support to encourage young people into agriculture. Sara Jenkins, 28 won the latest series of Channel 4's Our Dream Farm, and said there were not enough opportunities for people her age and younger to access land. It comes as farming leaders warn in a new report of "significant barriers" facing young farmers, and said figures highlighting the industry's ageing workforce were "scary". The Welsh government said it supported a number of programmes to help young people "bring energy and fresh ideas" to farming. Debate over farm subsidy plan moves to Royal Welsh In pictures: The Royal Welsh Show Tax row will put young people off farming, M&S boss says Sara and her partner Ioan Jones became tenants of the National Trust's Llyndy Isaf - a 248 hectare (613 acre) hill farm in the heart of Eryri national park, also known as Snowdonia - after the "intense" TV content last year. The young couple were already "making the most of it", after repeated attempts to secure farmland in recent years. "We're very lucky," she said, "it's a massive positive knowing that we have the tenancy for 15 years". Renting a farm was the "only realistic option" because land prices were so high, influenced in part by "big companies buying land to plant trees for carbon offset", she claimed. It was quite an "uncertain" time to start a farming business and "quite a risk", given the continuing overhaul of subsidies and other policies, and she urged governments in both Cardiff and Westminster to "think about young farmers". Scenes of protests and discontent within the industry in recent years "must have thrown some people off" agriculture as a career, she warned. "I wouldn't blame any young person that doesn't want to go into farming because of all the commotion that's going on... but it will come around in a full circle. "The country is going to realise how valuable British food is and how important farmers are to this country." In a new report launched at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, in Llanelwedd, Powys, the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) made 40 recommendations for how to encourage young people into the industry. The union stressed the "key importance of attracting and retaining young talent", to safeguard food security and tackle environmental challenges while sustaining rural communities. Teleri Fielden, FUW policy officer, said figures on the industry's ageing workforce were "scary" - with the median age of the "key decision maker" on Welsh farms being 61, and only 3% "head of holding" farmers under the age of 35. "It's a bit concerning because we've had a generation that have been told don't go into farming - it's too hard," she said. Prohibitive land prices and access to finance are identified as key challenges in the report, as are limited and insecure tenancies and the sale of county council farms. The report also warned of "a significant lack of succession planning and/or willingness within the industry as a whole", with 21% of farmers polled in a recent survey stating they did not intend to retire. Recommendations for the Welsh government included making its new Sustainable Farming Scheme work for young farmers, with more support too for agricultural colleges. The report also encouraged existing farmers and landowners to provide tenancies and offer longer-term, secure arrangements. "Give the next generation those opportunities," urged Ms Fielden. There were simple things other farmers could do like "becoming a mentor, passing on your skills, leasing livestock or lending equipment", she said. "Turning up with a little bit of help and just giving young farmers that boost to say 'yes you can do it and we're here for you' is really important." Caleb Vater made FUW history by becoming the youngest person elected to one of the union's committees when he was just 15. Now 18, the young farmer from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, said he felt he had to get involved after being concerned by "the amount of my friends in farming who were saying they weren't going to go into agriculture". "It's heart-breaking," he said, calling for more of emphasis in the school curriculum on teaching about farming. Sara Roberts, 28, an agricultural lecturer at Coleg Sir Gar's Gelli Aur campus near Carmarthen said there was work to do too to change perceptions about a career in agriculture. "It's an industry that's changing all the time and the stereotype of a farmer in his flat cap with a shepherd's crook on the top of a mountain really doesn't portray what it's about at the moment," she said. "We obviously still need people who'll milk cows and drive tractors but the industry is much more than that - drone operators, people with very specialist technical skills, data analysts are required too." The Welsh government said it continued to support young and new entrants to the agricultural industry through programmes such as Start to Farm. "The new Sustainable Farming Scheme has been designed to be accessible to all farmers, including new entrants and tenant farmers," a spokesperson added. "We want to make sure that new and young people can enter the industry and bring energy and fresh ideas."
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Young farmers need more support, winner of Channel 4 show says
A woman who won the opportunity to rent a farm for 15 years on a hit TV programme has called for more support to encourage young people into Jenkins, 28 won the latest series of Channel 4's Our Dream Farm, and said there were not enough opportunities for people her age and younger to access comes as farming leaders warn in a new report of "significant barriers" facing young farmers, and said figures highlighting the industry's ageing workforce were "scary".The Welsh government said it supported a number of programmes to help young people "bring energy and fresh ideas" to farming. Sara and her partner Ioan Jones became tenants of the National Trust's Llyndy Isaf - a 248 hectare (613 acre) hill farm in the heart of Eryri national park, also known as Snowdonia - after the "intense" TV content last young couple were already "making the most of it", after repeated attempts to secure farmland in recent years."We're very lucky," she said, "it's a massive positive knowing that we have the tenancy for 15 years".Renting a farm was the "only realistic option" because land prices were so high, influenced in part by "big companies buying land to plant trees for carbon offset", she claimed. It was quite an "uncertain" time to start a farming business and "quite a risk", given the continuing overhaul of subsidies and other policies, and she urged governments in both Cardiff and Westminster to "think about young farmers".Scenes of protests and discontent within the industry in recent years "must have thrown some people off" agriculture as a career, she warned."I wouldn't blame any young person that doesn't want to go into farming because of all the commotion that's going on... but it will come around in a full circle."The country is going to realise how valuable British food is and how important farmers are to this country." In a new report launched at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, in Llanelwedd, Powys, the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) made 40 recommendations for how to encourage young people into the union stressed the "key importance of attracting and retaining young talent", to safeguard food security and tackle environmental challenges while sustaining rural Fielden, FUW policy officer, said figures on the industry's ageing workforce were "scary" - with the median age of the "key decision maker" on Welsh farms being 61, and only 3% "head of holding" farmers under the age of 35."It's a bit concerning because we've had a generation that have been told don't go into farming - it's too hard," she said. Prohibitive land prices and access to finance are identified as key challenges in the report, as are limited and insecure tenancies and the sale of county council report also warned of "a significant lack of succession planning and/or willingness within the industry as a whole", with 21% of farmers polled in a recent survey stating they did not intend to for the Welsh government included making its new Sustainable Farming Scheme work for young farmers, with more support too for agricultural report also encouraged existing farmers and landowners to provide tenancies and offer longer-term, secure arrangements."Give the next generation those opportunities," urged Ms were simple things other farmers could do like "becoming a mentor, passing on your skills, leasing livestock or lending equipment", she said."Turning up with a little bit of help and just giving young farmers that boost to say 'yes you can do it and we're here for you' is really important." Caleb Vater made FUW history by becoming the youngest person elected to one of the union's committees when he was just 18, the young farmer from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, said he felt he had to get involved after being concerned by "the amount of my friends in farming who were saying they weren't going to go into agriculture"."It's heart-breaking," he said, calling for more of emphasis in the school curriculum on teaching about Roberts, 28, an agricultural lecturer at Coleg Sir Gar's Gelli Aur campus near Carmarthen said there was work to do too to change perceptions about a career in agriculture."It's an industry that's changing all the time and the stereotype of a farmer in his flat cap with a shepherd's crook on the top of a mountain really doesn't portray what it's about at the moment," she said."We obviously still need people who'll milk cows and drive tractors but the industry is much more than that - drone operators, people with very specialist technical skills, data analysts are required too." The Welsh government said it continued to support young and new entrants to the agricultural industry through programmes such as Start to Farm."The new Sustainable Farming Scheme has been designed to be accessible to all farmers, including new entrants and tenant farmers," a spokesperson added."We want to make sure that new and young people can enter the industry and bring energy and fresh ideas."
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Fears over future of Cockermouth's Wordsworth House
Fears have been raised over the future of the house where the celebrated Romantic poet William Wordsworth was National Trust, which owns Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, Cumbria, said the attraction was underused and although not being closed permanently, it was consulting on a "new, sustainable model", which would focus more on its Bertram, a volunteer at the house, said she was "really disappointed" and feared it could have an impact on the town's economy, as it was "a major draw".The National Trust said if Wordsworth House remained open as a "pay-for-entry experience" it would continue to lose "significant amounts" of money. Mrs Bertram said the National Trust told volunteers its plans would include a reduction in opening days, the potential for visits to only take place in the garden and proposed staff National Trust declined to confirm it was proposing redundancies at Wordsworth House, but said earlier this month it had announced it would look to cut 6% of jobs across its organisation nation-wide, in a bid to save £26m. 'For everyone, for ever' Mrs Bertram, who had worked at Wordsworth House for six years after a career in the NHS, before becoming a volunteer, said she feared changes would lead to the site's closure."By closing the house the history will have gone from that plot of land and we will not be able to spread the word that Cockermouth was the starting point for the Poet Laureate," the 73-year-old said."It's very sad and I think it will impact on the rest of the town because people just won't come." Joe Murray, co-chair of Cockermouth and District Chamber of Trade, said Wordsworth House was one of the town's main attractions, driving footfall to businesses."We want to work in partnership with [the National Trust] and other organisations, to ensure it remains open to all, at the heart of our town," he added the community had been responsible for saving the building from demolition in 1937, when there were plans to turn the site into a bus station."Today, the Wordsworth House website says the trust wants it 'to be looked after for everyone, for ever'. That's exactly what must happen." The spokesperson for the National Trust said: "Our proposals aim to increase access, share the Wordsworth story more widely, and explore new uses for the space."They added there would be a new model in place by 2027, following a consultation with the community and was born in the Georgian building in the heart of Cockermouth in poems such as The Prelude, the poet reminisces about his childhood in the Mount, in Ambleside, where Wordsworth lived from 1813 until his death in 1850, was recently put up for sale, with descendant Christopher Wordsworth saying it was "harder and harder" to manage the Lake District property from his home in London. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Overnight road closures announced for busy route near Clumber Park
Drivers are being warned of overnight road closures on a busy route in Nottinghamshire while maintenance work takes has started to resurface parts of the A614 Blyth Road, near Worksop, close to where it joins the route will be closed between the Netherfield Lane roundabout near Thoresby Hall and the A57 Apleyhead roundabout, the county council road, which includes the main entrance to the National Trust's Clumber Park estate, will be shut from 19:00 until 05:00 BST on weeknights until 1 October. A spokesperson for the National Trust said: "If you are leaving Clumber Park after 19:00, please use the Trumans exit, which will remain open until 20:00 while the roadworks take place, or the exit at Carburton. "The Apleyhead exit will not be accessible."Motorists have also been warned that ongoing survey work will result in some overnight closures to the adjoining stretch of the A1 until 9 surface dressing work will mean overnight closures over the same period on the A614 at the A6097 junction for the Epperstone Bypass.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Families invited to enjoy summer of play on Brownsea Island
FAMILIES are invited to have a fun summer experience with their kids participating in play events at Brownsea Island. Brownsea Island is offering an 'unforgettable season of fun', 'discovery' and 'adventure'. The National Trust has organised Summer of Play events programme offering a packed calendar of activities designed to 'spark imagination' and 'connect children with nature'. The island's annual summer of play activity trail will be open daily from July 24 to August 30. This year's trail features crayon rubbing, animal-themed games, and ends at the popular natural play area. Dawn Clark, Visitor Experience Officer, said: 'We're so happy to welcome families back for a series of free Summer of Play events this year. 'Brownsea is a place for adventure where imaginations can run wild, and this year it is all about giving children the freedom to explore, create, and connect with the outdoors. He added: "Whether it's building dens, discovering wildlife, or just enjoying a picnic with a view, there's something here for everyone." Mondays are described as 'minibeast days' where children will have opportunity to get close with nature while discovering the world of bugs. Families can head out on a bug hunt then sculpt a clay minibeast to take home. Tuesdays in August will explore the ancient Japanese art of Hapa Zome. Families will have the chance to create botanical prints by hammering leaves and flowers onto fabric, revealing the hidden dyes of nature and crafting a unique keepsake to take home. From July 30 to August 27, On Wednesdays, families can drop in between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm to try their hand at potion making, wild weaving, and crafting natural musical instruments and kites with Dorset Rewilding. During Fridays and Saturdays, families can attend free bushcraft taster sessions led by local expert Joe Peartree who brings a knowledge and a passion for the wild, ensuring each session is both educational and enjoyable. This session will start from July 25 throughout August. All Summer of Play activities on Brownsea Island are free to enjoy, though standard ferry and admission charges still apply. Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank and supported by Sport England.
