Category: Sustainable Agriculture

RELEASED: Richard’s Election Priorities for Thirsk & Malton Constituency – June 2024

Richard McLane Leave a comment

Politics is in a state of crisis – most people have lost complete faith in our political system. Our MP has failed to represent our needs for many years, which brings a desperate need for real change – this can’t happen without voting for a more robust MP in Thirsk & Malton – one who will fight for our local priorities.

“I have a genuine and unwavering passion to bring positive change to our area – we can’t wait another five years to be heard in parliament.”

Anyone who has met Green Party candidate, Richard McLane, will know there is not another contender with his passion for making this area a better place to live and work; a successful businessman, Richard is not afraid of speaking up for what he believes in.

HOW CAN RICHARD MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

If elected, I will achieve the results we need.

Here are my TOP PRIORITIES:

1. Protecting Agriculture and Increasing Resilience of Small Family Farms

The government must stop undermining our farmers and increase resilience of the sector. The decline we have seen in agriculture over the last 40 years is shameful – if we act now, we can reverse this trend. We must not allow supermarkets to control prices; tariffs should be imposed on low quality food imports; while improved subsidies and financial support are essential to creating food security.

2. Reducing the Cost of Living & Making Housing More Affordable

For today’s profits, the Tories are stealing from our future. House builders have monopolised the new build market – lobbying the government to reduce legislation in return for generous donations to their party. Houses must be insulated and heated efficiently; built to better standards; while investment and support of renewable infrastructure will bring electricity prices down long-term.

3. Local Business Support – A More Progressive Tax System

A progressive tax system is needed to help independent businesses thrive and compete with large chains and corporates. I have founded and continue to lead two successful businesses and so understand the challenges and lack of support. Local businesses uphold the standards of quality we need; they boost the economy, provide jobs and take care of staff. They are a central pillar of the community which we must value.

4. Education – Less Pressure with More Practical Opportunities to Learn

There’s a place for exams in education, however the intensity of tests imposed on children is out of control. The focus of education needs to be realigned with personal needs. Improved funding is required for schools to provide a more varied curriculum – incorporating subjects connected with ‘real life’ such as financial management; food production; agriculture; biodiversity; and outdoor pursuits.

5. Stop Privatisation – We Need Public Ownership of Public Services

We need to take public ownership of public services – save the NHS, take control of our railway network, clean up rivers and protect our water services from privatisation. Why should we tax payers bail out huge corporations such as Virgin Trains, when they fail to make the profits they’d planned. Putting these services up for auction is not a solution – underinvestment needs addressing to guarantee free access and superior standards. 

6. Social Justice – Creating Equal Opportunities & A Fairer Society For All

There is no place for billionaires in this world. I want to bring social justice to the people who live here. Equal opportunities for all social backgrounds; fairer distribution of wealth across our society; assured access to quality, affordable food and housing; and a better standard of life for those with the lowest incomes is not too much to ask. I will make this happen for the people of Thirsk & Malton.

“We must embrace this opportunity – I will ensure my inputs and energies make the difference we require.”

I am always listening. This election presents us with the best opportunity we have ever had to elect a strong, local voice in Thirsk & Malton.

For questions or further information, please email: mclanesustain@gmail.com

Hedge Laying Event at Lodgefield Farm

Richard McLane Leave a comment

What a fantastic turn out we had for our hedge-laying event last month – where we invited all those interested to join us to either watch or help with laying a section of hedging at Lodgefield Farm, Gilling East. Having grown up in this spectacular location perched on the hillside overlooking the Gilling valley, Richard McLane and family welcomed people from the Ryedale district to learn from award winning hedge-layer Edward Caldecott, as he demonstrated the art of hedge-laying and explained the benefits of this traditional craft.

The hedge itself had been planted by Richard McLane’s mother 20 years ago and hadn’t been touched since. Primarily hawthorn and dotted with a small number of field maple and ash trees, the hedge had reached a height of over three metres and so was in need of some care to sustain its healthy growth. Thankfully we were lucky with the weather and whilst it was a crisp January morning, the sun was shining and it didn’t take long to get warm.

With almost 50 people attending throughout the course of the day, attendees were varied, coming from all walks of life, ranging from local farmers and landscape gardeners to engineers, conservationists, builders and children with their parents in home education. Having met people travelling from Scarborough, Beningbrough and Thirsk, it was both rewarding and reassuring to see such a genuine interest in hedge-laying and the associated benefits it offers the farming sector and our natural environment.

Please do look out for future and upcoming events on our FACEBOOK PAGE – but in the meantime we thought it would be of interest to summarise our hedge-laying technique and highlight why you may want to consider practising this century-old craft yourself:

Why Consider Hedge-Laying?

  • To prolong the life of your hedgerow and help new growth flourish
  • To create a life-long boundary for containing stock and animals for farming purposes
  • To rejuvenate stunted, bare-stemmed hedging; neglect remains their primary threat
  • To overcome the damage caused by excessive use of herbicides and over-cutting
  • To encourage new growth from the base, enhancing and maintaining our landscape
  • To improve your local biodiversity, creating a haven for wildlife and helping nature thrive

10 Steps To Successful Hedge-Laying

  1. The best time of year to lay your hedge is whilst the plants are dormant and bird activity is at its lowest, typically October to March each year.
  2. Before you begin, check the regional style of hedging which is typically adopted in your area. Here in Ryedale we prefer the Yorkshire style – however THIS WEBSITE has some helpful advice when making this decision.
  3. Clear out dead wood from beneath the hedge and remove all growth which is out of line – this provides clear access to carry out subsequent steps.
  4. Select evenly spaced pleachers (the main stems that are cut and laid). Younger stems will regenerate more successfully than the older more mature pleachers. N.B the larger field maple trees were not laid as they crack very easily.
  5. Remove vigorous species such as Elder, as these cannot be laid successfully and they will suppress other plants as they try to re-establish themselves.
  6. Cut pleachers so that the trimmed stump sits circa 5-10 cm above the ground – ensuring beforehand, that the tops aren’t tangled in the rest of the hedge which allows them to fall freely.
  7. Whilst you should not cut right through the pleacher in order to give the best chance to re-grow, you must cut far enough so it can lower in to its new position without being forced.
  8. All pleachers must be laid to the same angle and ideally should be laid uphill to help the flow of sap.

The McLane family would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended their hedge-laying event for their enthusiasm and interest – and for making the day such a memorable occasion. They look forward to seeing their freshly laid hedge flourish over the years to come and hope to see some of you again at future events.

Please remember to follow their Facebook page to keep up to date.