Yesterday, the news of the Defra CAP deal emerged and it falls short of what nature needs for recovery. You can read our reaction here as well as thoughts from our Conservation Director Martin Harper here.
You may have also seen our blog post earlier this week where we showcased three scrumptious items that are in the hamper that has been handed into Minister George Eustice. Today, we’re featuring three more lovely items which have all come from farmers who work with wildlife in mind.
Gazegill Organics Award Winning Cheese
These two Lancashire cheeses from Gazegill Organics have won awards at the British Cheese Awards. The creamy Lancashire won gold and crumbly won silver. They are made using raw organic grass fed milk from rare breed happy animals at Gazegill.
Farmer Ian O’Reily included the following message in the hamper with his cheese:
“Through sensitive and thoughtful farming practices, is it possible to produce profitable food without destroying natural habitats. Intensive practices are unnecessary, if we tackle waste in the food chain head-on, and return to seasonal variation in our diets. We manage our luxurious hedges for maximum yield of both wildlife and berries. Hoverflies and ladybirds abound helping us to keep other insects such as black flies under control. We also regularly see rabbits, foxes, badgers and deer.
Our farm is a living, natural proof that farming and nature can work hand-in-hand, when we think outside of modern, intensified agriculture - and our cheeses have won several British Cheese Awards.”
Honey and beeswax candles
George Fenemore and his bees made Oxfordshire honey and beeswax candles at his farm in Cherwell Valley. The farm grows a range of combinable crops, sheep and a beekeeping enterprise.
George included the following message in the hamper:
“We’ve been involved in environmental and wildlife stewardship on our farm in Oxfordshire since 1974. We were awarded HLS in 2006 and we’ve really seen the difference, and it fits in well with my own love of the countryside and wildlife. Within two years of joining the scheme, redshanks bred for the first time in the Cherwell Valley, and I love to walk around the farm in the evening, and see the grey partridges and other wildlife.
Our business has combinable crops, sheep and beekeeping enterprise selling honey. The bees forage the many habitats on the farm, and the candles are hand-made, from our own beeswax.”
Drovers Hill Farm Cider and Apple Juice
Drovers Hill Farm works with nature to create a healthy biodiverse farm. The organic cider and apple juice is made with no added sugar or preservatives so they taste exactly like the apples they were pressed from.
Farmer Nicola Knop sent the following message with the hamper:
“We bought our organic farm in the Chilterns in 2006. Back then, there was little wildlife – but in a short period of time, we’ve seen wildflowers return, along with even more bird diversity. We’ve planted our orchard with wildflower margins, and it’s helped to support lacewings, ladybirds, small mammals and hares.Owls are also returning. Supporting wildlife-friendly farming through funding is a great use of taxpayers’ money. It has enabled us to plant new hedges, and reverse the decline of rare chalk grassland.
Our organic apple juice retains natural flavours and colours, and as such may vary from year to year. We make our organic ciders in a very traditional way, using our apple juice.”
Look out for the last blog post tomorrow where we’ll feature the last of the lovely products and personal messages that are in the hamper. And don't forget to click on the links above to find out more information including where you can buy each item.