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As we leave May behind, we can reflect on the unusually negative outlook that has been widely reported for the agricultural sector – the month starting with farmers racing to salvage their harvests and plant the crops for the year ahead, as record rainfall leading up to April completely wiped out some crops, or at best significantly reduced yield forecasts

Farmers were reported to be losing tens of thousands of £££ pounds as a result of the flooding of their land – with absolutely no support from the government. If things weren’t already desperate enough, they certainly are now…

As a result of these floods, many farmers have reached the point of no return and so food security is at greater risk than it’s ever been; the Australian trade deal continues to outstrip the prices UK farmers can compete with; while supermarkets are monopolising the market, stealing the profits and squeezing all but the biggest of farms to the point of bankruptcy.

In a way, the culmination of these misfortunes give me some hope; I’d even go as far to say they could be considered as well timed. After all, there is a general election on the horizon, and so at last the option of ‘real change’ for farmers across Ryedale and the Thirsk and Malton constituency can be achieved.

There’s no surprise that Tory leader Rishi Sunak is jumping on the back of the negative press and ‘pretending’ he is going to do something about creating a sustainable future for our local farms with a food security index. Why has he left it so long?

Let’s be honest – he and his predecessors have done their absolute best to decimate the industry over the last 40 years. When my parents started farming in the Gilling East near Helmsley 45 years ago, there were 25 small working farms in the valley. Today there are only but three. These figures speak for themselves.

The NFU support this trend reporting that 7,000 farms have dissolved nationally since 2019 – a pretty catastrophic statistic. So why is this happening… 

• Crop loss and reduced yields are currently the worst in living memory
• Most farmers receive less than 1% of the profits of the food they grow
• Tesco monopolises the food market, reporting a £2.3 billion profit last year
• While 49% of veg & fruit farmers predict they will be bust by Dec 2024
• And an almighty 95% of food in the UK is sold through just 10 retailers
• This has removed negotiation power & squeezed prices to an all time low

Reality is needed. Farmers need to face up to what is required to ensure the industry’s survival. I have worked on our family’s farm since the age of 10 years old – it is my life blood, my passion and it breaks me to watch the strong farming heritage in Ryedale being destroyed. If we do something about this now and we vote in the right leadership – we CAN turn this around.

My fear is that it will be too late by the time another general election is called. 

1. Financial Support

Firstly, we need to lobby the government to provide support to farmers who are being affected by the increasingly common flooding and extreme weather. Simultaneously we need to be looking at improving resilience, such as more effective flood management and drainage solutions; whilst also acting on the climate crisis to minimise the chances of these freak weather patterns recurring.

Secondly, farmers should be guaranteed a fair price – that being a minimum proportion of the profit their produce is being sold for by the dominant retailers. The profits supermarkets can make on British produce should capped, making ‘home-grown’ more affordable to consumers and encouraging people to buy food and drinks which originate from British sources.

3. Improve Distribution & Offer Tax Incentives

We must create strong distribution channels for farmers to directly reach the end consumer and ensure that locally produced food is both accessible and affordable to the widest market possible. We must implement tax incentives to support this. Our children must be educated on where quality food comes from, how it is produced and why it is essential to their future.

A sustainable future for farming is imperative. New and regenerative techniques have been proven to raise productivity, soil health and crop yields – working with nature, rather than against it. The research and evidence to support these claims must be more widely accessible, helping educate those taking farming forward and providing financial support to help with this transitional period.

Finally – we must question, why are the standards of foods imported to the UK not equal to those we expect of our own farmers? Tariffs must be imposed on imported produce, when it is selected by large retailers and does not meet our own government’s expectations. 

…I urge you to consider how you vote in this election. The NFU’s president – when referring to the Conservative government – has himself said that it’s easy to ‘deliver words’. I am all too aware of the emotional investment each farmer makes in keeping their livelihood afloat. It is revised policies and relentless government commitment we need.

For us to secure the survival of agriculture, it has been reported that farmers need an average 20% price rise.

With a strong and welcome presence from our farming community in previous years, the event has also been attended by people from all walks of life – including local Ryedale residents, families, conservationists, horticulturalists, students and many more. Please come along, everyone is welcome to our free community event.

Back By Popular Demand – Award Winning Hedgelayer, Farmer & Engineer Ed Caldecott Returns To Support Us.

Come and learn how it’s done by a true expert, or if you know a thing or two … we’d love to see your skills! Ryedale’s hedgelaying dream team can’t wait to welcome you to the Gilling Valley…

Following the extraordinary success and interest in our previous hedgelaying events, this year’s event has been extended – now it its third year – to take place over two days in February 2024. The event will see 200 metres of mixed hedging being laid, with demonstrations taking place of both the Midland Bullock and Yorkshire hedgelaying styles, located at Lodgefield Farm, Gilling East.

Led by Ed Caldecott, a true professional and award-winning hedgelayer, farmer and engineer – the event remains FREE to all those attending and is open to anybody keen to either learn or practise their skills in the ancient craft of hedgelaying. While Richard Mclane, founder of local business, Bisca staircases has sponsored the event as part of its environmental quest to support projects which conserve the landscape in our local area; his family are looking forward to once again hosting a strong attendance out on the hilltop of their farm, in the beautiful Gilling Valley.

THE BENEFITS OF HEDGELAYING

Hedgelaying is the only way to stimulate new growth from ground level in mature hedgerows, lasting 20+ years before the need to repeat, whilst prolonging a hedge’s lifespan without having to replant; this is a re-emerging technique which offers many benefits to landowners including:

• Effectively containing stock and providing shelter for farm animals
• Reducing costs for fencing and time needed for hedge maintenance
• Preserving the natural landscape and our traditional farming heritage
• Enhancing the beauty of the hedge itself and the surrounding countryside
• Providing natural habitats for wildlife and enhancing the local biodiversity

If left unmaintained, a hedgerow will lose its structure, become weak and gappy, often either starting to rot at the root or alternatively growing to look like a tree and thus, losing its hedging qualities.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND OUR HEDGELAYING EVENT?

Whether you’re looking to get a grasp of the skills required to lay a hedge, practise what you already know with like-minded people – or even show us how it’s done… we’d love to see you.

The day will combine masses of enthusiasm with some of the best views in Ryedale – and most importantly a passion for conserving our much-loved farming heritage and landscape. Hot drinks, soup and cake will be served.

WHEN: Fri/Sat 16th & 17th Feb 2024 @7.30am to 15.30pm

WHERE: Gilling East, Near Helmsley, Ryedale, North Yorkshire

To find out full details of the event, please click here.

Or to ask any questions, please contact Richard McLane on mclanesustain@gmail.com or 07872 530465

Following the sad news that popular Green councillor for Sowerby & Topcliffe division, Dave Whitfield, has been forced to resign from post due to ill health, John Law has been selected as his successor and your local Green Party candidate for the upcoming by-election on Thursday, 30th November.

Although he was unable to stand for the full term, Dave was voted in as Green Councillor in 2022 for this area and since then has worked tirelessly in the community to support local concerns and initiatives; he was making some excellent progress until he became unwell and we’d like to thank him for his valued efforts.

Introducing John Law – Green Party Candidate

John has previously had great success in local elections and is an excellent choice for continuing the hard work and dedication our former Green Councillor has given to the role for Sowerby & Topcliffe division.

“I care deeply about the local community and can be trusted.”

JOHN’S PRIORITIES

John has a mission – to put the PEOPLE of Sowerby & Topcliffe first – EVERY TIME.

Their needs should come above party politics.

John believes this community deserves better. Preserving the character of the towns and villages is a genuine priority for him – this is an incredibly beautiful part of North Yorkshire – yet it has felt neglected by local and national government for a long time.

John has identified the following priorities for Sowerby & Topcliffe:

John Law will be the kind of Councillor who reaches out to people, a Councillor who listens to resident’s worries and can be trusted to tackle the issues that affect you day to day. A Councillor who, unlike other party candidates, does not have to toe a party line. John Law will not let you down.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS – WHY YOU MUST VOTE….

A vote for John Law is a vote for this community. It’s the ONLY VOTE that will make a difference to Sowerby & Topcliffe.

Don’t forget, if you vote for anyone else – another Conservative is most likely to win and Sowerby & Topcliffe will lose their voice. We need positive change and only John Law can achieve this for you.

A FINAL WORD FROM JOHN…

If you would like to get in touch or have any concerns you would like John to prioritise – or perhaps you would like a poster to display in your property – please email John on john@johnlaw.green

Promoted by Martin Brampton on behalf of John Law (Green Party) both at Unit 130077, PO Box 6945, London, W1A 6US

Join in the 2023 hedge laying event at Lodgefield Farm, Gilling East on Friday 17 March from 8 am to 2 pm. More information here.

It is six months since three generations of the McLane family were left feeling deeply disappointed following a meeting with Malton & Thirsk Conservative MP, Kevin Hollinrake. “His responses to the challenges we raised – which affect both our area and the environment – simply lacked any fact or degree of compassion,” confirms Richard McLane, parliamentary candidate for Malton and Thirsk Green Party.

As the Conservative government once again faces embarrassing scrutiny – there’s no wonder a rural revolt is currently brewing against Truss. Leading party figures and charities have accused the new PM of “environmental vandalism” following their recent party conference. Truss has been brazen in her plans to prioritise economic growth at the expense of key environmental commitments; again like Kevin, completely disregarding the facts and state of emergency our climate is currently facing.

George Eustice reports his dismay – watching on as the policies he championed in his former role as Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are simply ‘being dismantled’. But as Truss seeks to confront and alienate rural communities and nature-led organisations, naming them collectively as an ‘anti-growth coalition’; it is these people who in fact have the critical knowledge and influence to drive forward nature recovery and enable sustainable food production on the ground.

Former Nature Minister Rebecca Pow comments in a recent article in the Guardian on the importance of these stakeholders, including farmers – and how she consulted with them regularly when developing agricultural and environmental policies in her role. Involving them was key to setting and achieving realistic targets.

With Tory polls presently being at rock bottom, this isn’t a great time to be contesting critical environmental commitments. In Truss’s growth plan, it states that environmental legislation could be slashed to make development in investment zones easier. Whilst the plans to banish EU red tape later this year will likely mean that rare plants and animals will lose their protection status.

Once again we’re seeing bottomless promises from the Conservative leadership:

• Raw sewage in our rivers and on our coasts
• Protection of our natural environment torn up for more growth
• Trade deals that allow cheap imports to undercut our farmers
• Continued support of fracking when renewable energy is both cleaner, safer and significantly less expensive.

“I’m greatly concerned by the nativity of this government in disregarding the environmental challenges we face; and am moreso bewildered by their confidence to do this at a time when they simply can’t afford to lose any further support from constituents,” Richard continues.

The RSPB, Rivers Trust, National Trust and Wildlife Trust alone represent in excess of 10 million voters in the UK – do these people’s votes not matter to the Conservative party? Our people must start and question who they are voting for and why. Whilst our country submerges into an economic crisis under such fragile leadership – the environment cannot wait any longer. It’s now or never if we are to secure the future of our next generations.

The Conservative party was elected having promised to prioritise climate change. This responsibility cannot be disregarded for the benefit of the economy – the two work hand in hand and we can only thrive in a world that is sustainable.

Small steps by many make a big change overall – let’s not continue just doing what we’ve always done – it’s time to make positive change.

Greens claim second place to the Tories in the Kirkbymoorside & Dales division, raising their overall number of votes across the Ryedale district by 159% compared to the same election in 2017.

Having only entered politics very recently, local business owner and Green candidate Richard McLane, more than doubled the number of votes in his area to 549 in May 2022 from just 170 achieved five years previously, coming a close second to Greg Wright who was representing the Tories.

After visiting every home and farm in his division, from Bransdale to Rosedale and Kirkbymoorside up to Cropton, Richard summarises the experience as ‘both life-changing and an utter privilege to have met and listened to how so many interesting people live in the unique surroundings we can all call home.’

Having gained a clear understanding of the real challenges people in our community are facing, Richard is saddened he won’t be representing them on the Council. He does however feel incredibly grateful for the support he received throughout the campaign, having built such a strong following in what was a relatively short space of time.

A Green Surge or A Protest Vote?

Richard’s success in this campaign is characteristic of the Green surge we’ve seen nationwide during the local elections, with the party having achieved a record 545 councillors on 166 councils, in comparison to 445 councillors on 362 councils in 2017.

From the results across the Ryedale district, we can see that the 159% rise in voter support for the Green’s, was largely at the expense of the Conservative and Liberals.

Table 1: Greens achieve greatest rise in voter support compared to 2022

Across all divisions in Ryedale, Greens received support in 5 out of the 8 newly formed divisions (63%) compared to 2 out of the 6 seats available (33%) in 2017. In recognition of the increased support the Green’s received, winner of the Kirkbymoorside and Dales division Greg Wright made his way to Richard after the count was confirmed, asking in his opinion, ‘what the Conservatives needed to be prioritising’.

In his conversation Richard made reference to the need for a focus on the environmental crisis we face, reminding Greg of the recent motion he had himself drafted declaring a climate emergency and extending his offer of support in pushing this through, should it be needed.

“Our constituents expect that simple steps and incentives towards reducing our environmental impact are now made standard and encourage, for example, the increased use of sustainable packaging; providing widespread access to vehicle charging points and; ensuring all new properties are built as energy efficiently as possible,” Richard confirms. “Any politician who is not willing to make these initiatives a priority is sealing their fate and will eventually suffer as a result.”

Whilst the Ryedale district had the highest electorate turnout (38.9%) in North Yorkshire, Richard observed with concern, the disconnect between young people and politics.

“Having spoken to so many of the younger generation over recent weeks, it was quite depressing to learn of the distrust they have in politicians and their refusal to go out and cast a vote” Richard comments.

“Our politicians have a duty to reverse this inclination and need to think hard and fast about why this segment of our voters have become so disengaged.”

“Time will tell if my conversation with Greg was genuine and whether he is going to take our division’s environmental concerns seriously. The Green’s success can clearly be attributed to how hard our representatives are working to resolve localised issues, which contribute to global problems that will inevitably affect us all,” Richard concludes.

So What Next?

Well to provide some solace to all those who placed their trust in Richard, he now commits to continue on his quest and influence the priorities he campaigned on – in particular helping to secure the future of family farms and drive increased local food production within the Ryedale district.

He also plans to play an active role in pushing effective policy change through, by persistently communicating with our political leaders on the things that matter to the people in our area.

Please feel free to contact Richard if you have issues or concerns that you believe the government should be taking action on. And thanks again to all those who took the time to vote and offer their support to Richard in this election campaign. Email: mclanesustain@gmail.com

Following the much appreciated support I received in the recent Cropton Ward by-election, I have put myself forward to stand for the newly formed Kirkbymoorside and Dales Division for the North Yorkshire County Council election, taking place on May 5th 2022.

Born in Ryedale and having established my own business in this area, I have lived in the Kirkbymoorside and Dales division for 18 years. Over recent weeks and months, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many of you, allowing me to obtain a good understanding of the needs and challenges of both residents, local businesses and farmers in our community. It is my passion to develop a sustainable plan which ensures your future within our district is secure.

As local residents – for me, your needs come above party politics. And here lies the benefit of voting for the Green Party. As candidates, we are encouraged to represent the individual needs of our area and are not obliged to follow rigid policy like other parties. I’m here to represent you.

So whilst the integrity of the Conservative government continues to be questioned and they proceed to abolish the Ryedale District Council, creating a single council which covers all of North Yorkshire – from Settle to Scarborough to Selby – now more than ever, our community needs to elect someone who will stand up for us all and who you can trust to make a difference.

I will do my utmost to be that person and I hope you will give me that opportunity.

Here Are My Priorities:

In addition to the above, I will be prioritising improvements to social care standards and will be confronting one of the biggest threats our society currently faces; climate change. NYCC is persistently refusing to join the list of 307 councils across the country who have now declared a climate emergency. This cannot continue.

Please use your vote on the 5th May and remember, the Green Party gives me the platform to support and take action on the priorities that matter to us, as residents of the Kirkbymoorside & Dales Division. Thank you.

The Guardian newspaper is running an online live panel session at 7 pm on Monday 22 February 2021. The full title is “How is the climate crisis impacting the global food supply?” The session is described as follows:

How can we ensure we are eating more ethically, and supporting the farmers who are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis?

Our panel will discuss the effects of the climate catastrophe on the lives of farmers, in this livestreamed event supported by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Roughly one fifth of the UK’s fresh food imports come from areas threatened with climate chaos, sourced under conditions which are directly driving deforestation, drought and significant wealth inequality.

Now that we are living through a pandemic, the difficulties faced by farmers in the global south are being exacerbated, with many of them unable to cope with the huge challenges that come from changing weather patterns and demand, which also has a knock-on effect on the future of the food they grow, and on which millions of consumers in the UK depend.

As increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather patterns undermine the livelihoods of farmers, our panel – chaired by Guardian journalist Lucy Siegle, with Professor Emeritus of Food Policy, City University of London Tim Lang, Managing director of Fairtrade banana cooperative Banelino and Chair of CLAC Marike de Peña, and Reparationist Esther Stanford-Xosei, will be asking: how can we choose a fairer future for the people behind our food supply?

This is a free-to-attend event, supported by the Fairtrade Foundation.

The session will last an hour and you can book free tickets on the Guardian web site.

A number of Greens greatly enjoyed a presentation by Laura Vinton of “Make Votes Matter” on 3 February 2021. Laura explained the drawbacks of the first past the post electoral system, and the benefits of proportional representation. Following the presentation, there were questions and discussion.

You can see a recording of the meeting here.

The November 2020 meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday 11 November 2020 using the Blue Jeans conference system. All members and supporters are very welcome. For joining details, please see the post on online meetings.

This meeting will discuss the government’s plans to form one or more unitary authorities in North Yorkshire, doing away with the existing district councils. We will consider our response, which will be taken to an online North Yorkshire Green meeting at 7:30 pm on Thursday 19 November.

For joining details for the meeting on the 19th, please refer to the entry in our calendar. Details will show if you mouse over the entry. All members and supporters welcome.