Only 30 days to order your Xmas turkey

Place your order before time runs out…
17 Nov 2009

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is coming to Sheepdrove! This enchanting Christmas story comes to life with a very unique musical storytelling, on 4th and 5th December 2009. Delicious refreshments are included in the price of the ticket.

These are the only two dates available for the performance. Book now – don’t miss this chance to see a unique Nutcracker production!

Visit our website for more event details…
For bookings please call 01488 674737

Organic is the way forward – Soil Association

The Soil Association has published a new report, Food Futures: Strategies for resilient food and farming.

It calls for a new cross-Governmental food strategy, and includes a series of recommendations for building resilience into our food systems including:

• Raising the target for greenhouse gas cuts in agriculture from 6% to at least 20% by 2020, in line with other sectors;
• Increasing farm payments to those farmers who maximise carbon storage in the soil – and making the minimisation of soil carbon losses a condition of the Common Agricultural Policy subsidy payments;
• Increasing research and development funding for sustainable farming from 11% to at least 50%;
• Promoting healthy diets linked to the outputs of a more sustainable food system – i.e. less meat and much more seasonal and organic vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and starchy carbohydrates (with red meat and dairy reared on grass preferable to intensive pork and poultry reared on grain);
• Supporting public sector caterers to increase the amount of unprocessed, locally-sourced and organic food they serve; and
• Encouraging local authorities to re-introduce ‘growing belts’ and market gardens close to urban centres – and create more allotments to encourage family and community ‘grow your own’ initiatives.

The Soil Association’s Policy Director, Peter Melchett, said:
“We’ve got to make fundamental changes to food and farming if we’re going to meet the Government-agreed climate target of a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by 2050 and reduce the £6 billion burden on the NHS from diet-related illness.

“We need a joined-up strategy that links changes in diet to changes in our food systems. We can’t make plans for what people might eat in future in a different box to how that food is produced.”

Water – a Google Earth perspective

We added another feature article on the Sheepdrove website about All the World’s Water – to give you another global perspective on the size of  The Water Ball…

Preview this file with the Google Earth Plugin (learn more)

Google Earth users

Download the Google Earth KMZ file free >
20091105030452-4af2b154cedc69.99453783.kmz

 

An Organic Turkey for Christmas

Make it an organic turkey this year.

All Earth’s Air and Water

How much air and water is there on this planet? What would it look like if you collected all the world’s air – or the world’s water? See for yourself!

Water and air are the most precious substances we have, because without them, life on Earth would not exist. Sheepdrove’s animations show you a new perspective on how truly limited these resources are.

More details at the Sheepdrove website > 

FSA recommend state-imposed Folic Acid

Folic acid in your bread, whether you like it or not? The Food Standards Agency (FSA) say yes.

The Food Standards Agency, as advised by their Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, has written to Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, to confirm their view that it should be mandatory for folic acid to be put into British bread.

This mass medication programme would be undertaken to reduce rates of Spina Bifida, a debilitating condition which develops in a baby during its mother’s pregnancy, as a result of shortage of  Folate (vitamin B9) in the diet. Currently the annual incidence is around 1,000 cases in the UK annually, which the FSA reckons could be reduced to 350 cases.

If the Department for Health recommends legislation the UK could soon become the first European nation to follow the example of the USA and Canada. As with the mass fluoridation of water, this move to medicate without choice is controversial.

Because the body cannot store Folic Acid, those who argue in favour of the supplement point out the advantages of having the nutrient continuously available in the staple diet. Folic acid, along with other B-vitamins, is already found in a number of popular breakfast cereals.

However, critics point to the unknown effects of state-imposed Folic Acid over long periods. In a study last year, Prof Young-Im Kim of the University of Toronto highlighted increases in bowel cancer rates in USA and Canada, saying: “Excess folate, especially in the form of folic acid, can fuel lesion growth, accelerating progression into life-threatening cancers, because high levels of the vitamin make it easier for tumour cells to copy themselves.”

Natural sources of Folate include green leafy vegetables, beans and sunflower seeds.

Countryside project needs support

Rumours have emerged again of funding cuts for the Pang Kennet and Lambourn Countryside Projects.

Sheepdrove raised awareness of this in Feb 2009 with a published letter to local Councillor, Graham Jones. People rallied to the cause, and instead of completely cutting all cash from West Berkshire, the council voted to reduce its withdrawal of funds by half.

Nevertheless, this was a severe blow to the Pang Kennet and Lambourn Countryside Projects.

The projects carried on, but now the programme of countryside events, walks, nature conservation teams, Barn Owl groups, along with professional farm wildlife advice and biodiversity projects might be under threat once again. A stalwart projects volunteer, Dick Greenaway, has contacted parish councils and other allies, to ask for letters of support to go to councillors at West Berkshire. 

We too urge the council to continue to back the projects, which draw much more money into the district than they spend, and provide services to the countryside which would otherwise not happen. Learn more about the projects…

Tweets

Sheepdrove is now on Twitter.
Follow our tweets for exclusive Sheepdrove special offers, and more!

 

Hippocrepis, Succisa, Anthyllis

Over the last week we have been working hard for wildlife. Staff and volunteers established Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), Devils-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) and Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) to enhance habitat for butterflies at Sheepdrove Organic Farm.

Sheepdrove staff plant Devils-bit Scabious

Can it be as simple as adding flowers?
What is special about these plants?

Jason Ball explains, “Yes, these are very important plants! They are special because each is food for the caterpillar of a rare butterfly. Horseshoe Vetch is essential for Adonis Blue and Chalkhill Blue, Devilsbit Scabious is the favourite of Marsh Fritillary, and Kidney Vetch is vital for Small Blue.”

This is all part of Sheepdrove Rare Butterly Project, launched in partnership with Natural England, Butterfly Conservation, BBOWT, Pang Kennet and Lambourn Valley Countryside Projects, Forestry Commission and Flora Locale to develop a scheme to save some of the rarest lepidopterans in the Lambourn area.

“All of these butterflies are in need of help. Marsh Fritillary is almost extinct from Berkshire with only one colony left, which is located in the Lambourn Valley.”

“However, putting wildflowers around the farm is not enough - we must manage the habitat to suit the ecological needs of the target species we are trying to bring back. This is the task of our fine beef cattle!”

Devils-bit Scabious at Cockcrow Bottom

Cattle grazing reduced the height and dominance of rough grasses at Cockcrow Bottom, our 2.2 hectare project area near the lake. Devils-bit Scabious has thrived here, and is in flower now. Grazing also maintained the short swards at Bockhampton Down where the 4.18 hectare project area includes a young woodland with open habitat zones.

Our potted scabious proved to be tough in surviving dry summer periods, and next year they should flower well, if we can keep the rabbits off them. Sheep will be excluded altogether and the cattle grazing will be stopped early in August to allow the scabious a full flowering season.

Horseshoe Vetch goes into the chalkpit