At the launch event, held at the Olde Barn Hotel, Marston, Grantham, the three chairmen who will lead the local liaison groups and the four campaign coordinators were announced.
Regional CFE coordinator, Richard Loynes, joins the regional NFU and CLA teams to coordinate the three local group's activities and undertake administration and promotion on a regional scale. Richard, who has worked for Lantra, NFU and JH Walter in the East Midlands and will be based at NFU's offices, at Uppingham in Rutland, said:
"We're beginning a three-year journey to promote this exciting but challenging farmer-led initiative. Using a combination of practical demonstrations and advice from many different partner organisations in the East Midlands, we will help farmers to find their niche in the CFE. Not all the options fit everyone, so finding what it right for your farm and doing just that bit extra for the environment will help us to achieve our campaign aims."
There are three local liaison groups, Lincolnshire; Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland; and Nottinghamshire and Lowland Derbyshire. Each is chaired by a farmer and coordinated by a professional adviser, as follows:
In Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, the chairman is arable farmer Alf Oliver from Upton in west Leicestershire. The campaign will be administered by Alex Butler of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust based at Loddington, Leicestershire.
Contact Alex Butler on 01572 718763 or by email at alex.butler@cfeonline.org.uk.
In Lincolnshire the chairman of the local liaison group is Blankney Estates' general manager, Graham Harding. Graham will work together with local coordinator Barney Parker from Lincolnshire FWAG to gather a team of industry and stakeholder representatives to encourage farmers and land managers to take up the CFE's options.
Contact Barney Parker on 07713 333181 or by email at barney.parker@cfeonline.org.uk.
Nottinghamshire and Lowland Derbyshire's chairman is Michael Arlington. Michael farms 650 dairy cows and followers at Caunton near Newark and will work with Lesley Sharpe from Nottinghamshire FWAG as the local coordinator. Their local liaision group of like-minded people, including stakeholders and farmers will promote the campaign's aims to farmers and advisers in the extended Nottinghamshire area.
Lesley Sharpe can be contacted by calling 07824 311106 or by email at lesley.sharpe@cfeonline.org.uk.
Richard Loynes added: "Our three teams will be able to draw on local expertise and use practical events on the CFE "beacon farms" to demonstrate how the CFE options can be successful in different situations. As the spring days lengthen and farmers turn their thoughts, perhaps to their ELS renewals and to next year's cropping, we'll be getting information and advice to them to help them integrate the CFE into their farming plans."
Notes to editors:
Details of the CFE and the various options and how it will work on the ground can be found at www.cfeonline.org.uk. For more details contact Richard Loynes on 01572 824269/07879 884346 or email Richard.loynesCFE@nfu.org.uk. For photographs and further details, please contact Alison Pratt or Tim Barnes-Clay.
CFE Regional Press Contacts
NFU: Alison Pratt
NFU East Midlands, Agriculture House, North Gate, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9NX. Tel: 01572 824260/07773 761663, fax: 01572 824251, email: Alison.pratt@nfu.org.uk
CLA: Tim Barnes-Clay
CLA East Midlands, The Hayloft, Sutton Lodge, Sutton Basset, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 8HL. Tel: 01858 468949/07702 926696, fax: 01858 432250, email: Tim.barnesclay@cla.org.uk
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