It was so wet on NFU horticulture and potatoes board member Tim Papworth’s farm over Easter, he could “feel it in his fingers, and feel it in his toes!” But Tim has put on a brave face to reflect on the implications for 2018. He writes:
It was during this frustrating time I heard Wet Wet Wet “(Feels Like I’m) Walking on Water” on the radio and I felt I could relate to that!
So, “Hear Me Now” this is how the world rebalances itself after an exceptional 2017. “All I Want” is to be able to is get on with the spring work before the cuckoo arrives on my doorstep, which won’t be long and remains a “Sweet Little Mystery” how they navigate back from Africa every year.
“Somewhere Somehow” we need a warm dry month so we can plant the spring crops in good conditions, the “Temptation” is to work the soil when it isn’t ready which will only give a “Stay With Me Heartache” for the rest of the year. As I write this “Morning” it looks like it might be settling down so “With a Little Help from My Friends” we might be able to get on. “Strange” how things can change so quickly in such a short space of time.
Irrigation licence renewal has been worrying a lot of abstractors in this area and I have been involved in several meetings with the Environment Agency and Natural England, because the Catfield Fen enquiry has led to the agency using the precautionary principle a lot more, which is affecting our presumption of renewal, hopefully “Wishing I was lucky”, we will get things sorted out soon.
Defra has been holding a number of meetings around the country and I have been to a couple to try and understand how the 25-year environmental plan will work for the natural capital in my area. Having just completed several Countryside Stewardship agreements for our landowners and I hope I picked the right options!
To the wet, cold weather – “If I Never See You Again”, well, for a while anyway, that would be good.