I spent a wonderful evening with the Countrywomen on Wednesday 23rd April after a drive from my home in the vale of York on a beautiful sunny evening to your dale, famous for its daffodils. Idyllic to the visitor with ewes and lambs happily grazing, fantastic scenery and quaint stone houses. In my job as Rural Development Officer for the Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire & The Humber, where I work very closely with Farm Crisis Network, supporting farmers and their families when they encounter problems in their working and personal lives, I am well aware this can be a long way from idyllic. As a farmer's daughter and a farmer's wife, I appreciate the difficulties faced by the industry, especially over the last 10 years with increased disease threats, huge changes in policy and the heavy burden of paperwork, most particularly on the livestock industry.
The ladies were an excellent audience and from their own varying backgrounds, they all had an empathy for the work we are trying to do.
If you need a bit of support or someone to talk things over with, I would be pleased to hear from you on 07734 079459.
Thankyou for making me so welcome at The Bandroom - it has always been an ambition of mine to visit that venue and it was a real pleasure. As I left at about 10pm, the stillness and the peace were very apparent.
I wish you all continued success for your many efforts within your own community when it is not always easy to feel appreciated and support by our remote policymakers.