Agriculture - July-September 2001
There were a number of memorable events that took place in 2001. By September the foot and mouth tragedy was more or less over although the aftermath continued. The first extract here reminds us of the dreadful consequences of the disease when Councillors in Barnstaple wanted to call a halt to the funeral pyres of diseased livestock.
In an effort to support farmers DEFRA held conferences in the South West to try to coordinate efforts to support the revival of farms.
Torridge Vale dairy cooperative helped with the revival effort with it’s “Definitely Devon” range. They produced traditional churned and hand packed butter.
The next extract looks back to efforts by Torridge District Council to reopen the Burrows juggling with the difficulty of coordinating the 11 graziers with rights to run sheep on the land. The bid to reopen the Burrows by removing the sheep temporarily would allow local people to enjoy the open space and also the golf club to function restoring jobs and local revenue linked to the visitors.
Also in this year memorable events hit the headlines. On April 16th Vodafone made the first UK 3G phone call marking the dawn of mobile broadband. The Eden project opened on June 22nd. In September the English football team beat Germany 5:1 in a world cup qualifier under their new manager Sven -Goran Eriksson.
Locally, there was concern that allowing Norfolk fishermen to remove mussels to re seed their beds might damage the local ones.
In a similar vein Clovelly fishermen were looking to impose a ban on lobster fishing to try to conserve stocks.
It seems that efforts to conserve fish were working because there were sightings of dolphins off the North Devon coast and an appeal is out for a photograph to feature on tourist material.
Northam Council’s plans to return the Burrows tip area to nature are discussed in the next extract. The writer questions whether anybody knows what the natural appearance of the area is any more.
At the same time as the plans for Northam Burrows were being formulated North Devon was instigating biodiversity plans. It seems that 25 years ago this part of Devon had woken up to the environmental problems and loss of habitat that we are still struggling with.
Still on the theme of the environment which features much more in the papers of 2001 than agricultural issues, we have a scheme to develop woodland at Shebbear. Grants were provided to maintain woodland that was planted on 68 hectares the year before. The weeding equipment is also intended to be used to assist with other newly planted woodland.
Following the disaster of the foot and mouth shut down on the other important local industry, tourism, we can see efforts by local industries and councils to help rebuild this important activity. We see Noel Edmunds, famous for shows like, the “Late Late Breakfast Show” and “Noel’s House Party”, appearing at the Big Sheep to promote the area as part of the Devon Open weekend. Attractions all round the County offered events and discounts to lure visitors back.
On a visit to Rosemoor Gardens, the Tourism Minister Kim Howells was impressed by efforts to revive the sector but at the moment there were no offers of new money from the re-elected Labour government following the election of 7th June. This was the second election victory for Tony Blair’s Labour Party.
Traditional summer events continued with horticultural and in Torrington, a music festival.
The environment features in a story of the River Taw at Umberleigh. Flooding had become an issue. A pile of huge stones was placed next to the river the previous year but plans to dredge the flow and place the stones as flood defence had been postponed, partly due to the foot and mouth crisis, to be fair. Frustration levels peaked locally and the pile was decorated with gnomes firmly rooted to the spot and a sign saying “Environment agency in action. Do not feed – disturb”
AND : Some stories that caught the eye to finish....
A farm house and 9 self contained cottages all occupied and paying rent. Asking price? £595,000
This is an unusual one, 25 years ago Bideford Council was against parking meters!
And finally one more about the Kathleen and May on her way to Ireland.
