I am delighted to be back from maternity leave and have been very fortunate to have a comprehensive handover with Josh Redford who has done a sterling job looking after members. We are so grateful to Josh for all his work with group secretaries, stakeholders, farmers and growers. Most importantly we wish him well on his next chapter outside the NFU.
This month we saw our Health and Safety event at Moor Farm, by kind permission of Mark Chandler. Speakers included Stu Plumbley from Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance, Vince Payne and David Burton from NFU Mutual RMS, David Whiting from UK Mental Health, Barry from TTAW, and representatives from Sussex Police and Sussex Fire and Rescue. It was great to have FCN and the Samaritans supporting the event too.
In early June we enjoyed meeting all our Group Secretaries together for an update from our Regional Director Zoe Leach and our Regional Network Manager, Hannah Padfield. These sessions are useful to touch base and ensure everyone is up to speed on the latest issues affecting members and how the NFU is operating.
Josh attended the Surrey Farming Cluster farm walk which was brilliantly hosted by County Chair Jim Simmons on one of the hottest days of the year. It was great to see Jim’s farming enterprise at the Loseley Estate and members were particularly interested in his Wildfarmed wheat.
100 people attended the Redhill Branch farm walk on Wednesday 8th July. Roger Colebrook and family generously discussed their mixed; beef, arable and diversification farming business. Located inside the M25, the farm boasts incredible views of Gatwick airport and the London skyline. Followed by a BBQ and beer, the raffle raised £150 for KSS Air Ambulance.
As we move into harvest, we wish everyone a safe and bountiful few months and will be busy working away on events for the Autumn, including the AGM. If you have events you would like to see the NFU deliver in Surrey or speakers you would like to hear from, please do get in touch!