“The response from the farming community both locally and from the farthest reaches of the UK has been magnificent and huge thanks to everyone for their support” says NFU regional director Melanie Squires.
“We fully understand and appreciate people’s desire to pitch in immediately with practical help when they see the heart-breaking pictures of colleagues and their animals up to their waists in water. But the situation is under control in the short term with livestock safe and feed and bedding currently available.
“What we now need are the pledges of fodder or straw, rather than the actual deliveries, so that we can call upon people’s generosity as and when it is required over the coming weeks and months, when the waters finally abate and farmers return to face a fetid swamp no use to man nor beast rather than the fertile fields they had so painstakingly established, often over generations, supporting both food production and wildlife.
“Anyone who wants to provide fodder and bedding should contact us via c291dGgud2VzdEBuZnUub3JnLnVr (01392 440700) so we can log all the offers and match them up with those in need when that need arises.”
Anyone wishing to donate cash to organisations providing immediate succour in the most acute cases and support in the longer term should contact:
The Farm Community Network (FCN) whose volunteers provide practical and emotional support tofarmers and farming families affected by severe flooding and in the longer term will also be able to help stand alongside people needing business support.
The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), which can support farming families in Somerset and elsewhere in England and Wales by giving grants from its Emergency Fund to meet the domestic costs of badly affected farmers with no savings to fall back on.
The Addington Fund which can support farming businesses by making a contribution towards haulage costs so there is no hold up in getting vital supplies through.
Money donated to the three farming charities will be used for the work of the charities as they support Somerset farmers and donations may be made via:
Donations can also be made to the Royal Bath and West Show Society (http://www.bathandwest.com/somersetlevels/258/) and the Somerset Levels Relief Fund (http://www.justgiving.com/Somerset-Levels-Relief-Fund) which are raising money towards water management and for individual/bespoke support respectively.
All the organisations thank sincerely on behalf of those affected so catastrophically the many generous donors of money and practical assistance.