Somerset YFC

COURSES AND EVENTS THAT MAY INTEREST YOUNG FARMERS

WESTERN SOMERSET WOODLAND PROJECT

• Project history of Western Somerset Woodland Project

- Started in March 2011 as a two year funded project

- Aims to restore, enhance and protect woodland habitats through the promotion of

sustainable management

- Work with schools & communities to help more people enjoy woodlands

- To strengthen local supply chains and improve connections between woodland owners

and businesses

- To work with woodland owners, woodland businesses and local communities

• As part of the Western Somerset Woodland Project it is setting up a Contractors Directory to help

improve the local economy and strengthen supply chains;

- The directory is for all woodland businesses, suppliers, contractors, products and services

- It will be a valuable, up to date source of information covering a large area

- Western Somerset covers from Burnham on sea, south parallel to the M5 to south of

Wellington, west to Brushford, Challacombe and along the coast from Oare. It

incorporates Exmoor National Park

- There will be ample signposting and awareness raising of the Directory through the

Western Somerset Woodland Project and FWAG

- The Directory will have its own website linked to FWAG, the aim is to develop a local

woodland association that will also support the Contractor Directory

- The aim is to have the directory up and running by the beginning of March available

online. It will be downloadable.

• Benefits of membership

- Becoming a member will be ensuring that the economic benefits of managing

woodlands are accrued locally

- It will improve networking between owners and businesses and it will support the sharing

of good practice

- The directory will be available for anyone to access online, so will have a wide

readership within Western Somerset and beyond

- The Woodland Project is supporting local woodland management organisations by

signposting woodland owners to their services & promote partnership working

- An up-to-date Directory does not exist within Western Somerset currently

- It provides good, all year round marketing and affordable advertising

- The project will be working closely with neighbouring projects on the Blackdown Hills and

can refer woodland owners to members

- It will help to maximise business locally

- Develops a stronger network of contractors and woodland owners

- There are around 800 woodlands in Western Somerset, therefore lots of woodland that

either have or may require some form of sustainable woodland management

- The Directory will make it easier for woodland owners to find the right organisation,

service, person for the job required within the local area

- Benefit of being online will be the opportunity to amend information

- Annual membership fee is £25.00 per member or organisation / per year

- Payment can be made by cheque or invoices can be raised

- Annually a reminder will be sent to enquire if members would like to re-new their

membership for the directory and be able to update any information

• How to become a member;

- Complete an application Form, not all information on the form will be used in the

directory. Only sections one and two for business information and services will be used.

The other sections are for the Woodland Project / FWAG only as they have to verify

members are legitimate organisations for legal reasons.

- Submit and return the application to the FWAG SW office (address below) along with a

cheque made payable to FWAG SW or request for an invoice to be raised

Contact details

FWAG SW

Environment Department

County Hall

Taunton

TA1 4DY

Tel: 01823 355427

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

WATCH GREAT RUGBY AND A GREAT SHOW AT A GREAT STADIUM...

AND RAISE FUNDS FOR YOUR YOUNG FARMERS CLUB!

We are pleased to present to you this fantastic yet simple way to raise funds for your Young Farmers Club whilst also offering your members a great days’ entertainment.  This scheme is an easy, zero cost, fund raising initiative.

Following our Heineken Rugby Cup game at Wembley in December where we overcame the Ospreys I am writing to inform you of an outstanding day out at Wembley stadium for you to offer your club members and their families and, at the same time, raise funds for your club.

On Saturday March 31^st 2012, Aviva Rugby Premiership Champions, Saracens, will play the current table toppers, Harlequins in a mouth watering top of the table clash at the national stadium. This will feature the likes of David Strettle, Matt Stevens, Charlie Hodgson and Steve Borthwick, some great England Internationals going head to head with Danny Care, Nick Easter, Nick Evans and Ugo Monye.

However, Saracens @ Wembley is not just about the rugby. Some fantastic acts have graced the pre-match entertainment at our Wembley events and this will be no exception. It’s great rugby…but with a bit extra.  Dougie “King Of The Jungle” Poynter and Harry “Strictly Come Dancing Champion” Judd will be joining their fellow McFly band members to headline our entertainment along with Britains largest Choir, Rock Choir. The kick off time is 15h00 with pre match entertainment starting at 14h15. 

Tickets are priced from £15 for adults and £5 for juniors,U16 (Red and Black Category).

The Cashback scheme is very simple to run.  For every ticket ordered by your clubs members and their families you receive £5 Cashback per adult ticket and £2 per Junior ticket.  In our last Wembley fixture clubs and schools were raising in excess of £700.  The administration of the system is simple and requires very little management from the club. You can use the cash back anyway you want e.g. to arrange travel for the match or use in a beer fund. Likewise you could invest it back into your young farmers club. The deadline for ticket purchases is Friday 2^nd March, which means there is no time to lose in distributing information and receiving orders.

If you are interested and want to raise funds for your young farmers club through this scheme, plus give your members and their families the opportunity to enjoy a great day out at Wembley then simply email me This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01727 792 817.

WOMEN’S FOOD AND FARMING UNION PROVIDES FOOD FOR THOUGHT

'FOOD for thought 2012' is the theme of the Women’s Food and Farming Union National Conference being held in Devon in April. Organised by the Devon Branch of the WFU, the event will be held at Bicton College commencing with dinner on April 11^th followed by Conference on 12^th and 13^th April, 2012.   Various conference packages are available. The speakers who have already agreed to attend include University of Exeter Professor and Director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research Michael Winter, who will talk about food security.   Richard Ashworth MEP who will address the question of CAP reform.  Devon farmer Richard Haddock will urge the need for fair trade for UK farmers. Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) will look at how we feed an expanding global population whilst considering the environment, celebrated Devon cheese-maker Mary Quicke will speak about the Slow Food Movement. Bicton Principal David Henley will talk about inspiring young people, and a young farmer about their vision of the future.  Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, and Dr Marina Morgan microbiologist, will look at issues surrounding animal and human health, John Lee, OBE Chairman of the Devon County Agricultural Association, will chair questions. Rosemary Berry, Chairman of Devon WFU, said: "Devon WFU is extremely honoured to host this year's national conference and delighted that so many distinguished speakers and guests have already pledged their support for the event, including our National Patron, Baroness Byford and President Helen Bower. "The event is open to non-members as well as WFU members and we look forward to welcoming as many people as possible.” “WFU has campaigned to promote of British food and farming for more than 30 years but never has there been a more important time for as many people as possible to understand the issues that affect the industry's future.”

For more information contact Rosemary Berry  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone: 01884 32320

CMA MEETING

Somerset CMA (The Farm Management Group) meeting:  Monday 20 February 2012, Lester Bowker will be speaking on “The Challenges of Change”.  Lester runs a 750 head outdoor pig herd, 250 ewes, 150 dairy cows, beef, and grows cider apples.  He has a Christmas shop and a light industrial estate.  He started with 50 sows and no tractor, and developed the business to its current multi-enterprise set-up. 

He will talk about the changes he has made and the changes which have been inflicted on him, the mistakes he has made, and what he has learned, to enable him to cope with the next set of changes.

The meeting will be held at Junction 24 Sedgemoor Auction Centre, starting at 8pm.  There is a meal there, beforehand, at 7.15pm at a cost of £6.  No need to book: just turn up. Non members welcome

 For further details contact Richard West:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  01278 438472.