Farming for the Future Supplement

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MARCH 2014 COTSWOLD STYLE � 33

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1 Nick Chivers. 2 Gerard Knock. 3 Peter Dawson and Atty Beor-Roberts. 4 Claire Taylor and Liza Randall. 5 Leigh Glazebrook, Atty Beor-Roberts, RupertWakley and Claire Taylor – the Stow on the Wold Team. 6 Huw Davies. 7Martyn Austin and Esther Austin. 8 Edward Hicks, Sarah Morton andAdam Smith. 9 Janet Piper, Merille Phillips and Colin Piper. 10 Rupert Wakley. 11 Harry Gladwin. 12 Atty Beor-Roberts. 13Mr and Mrs Peter Strickland.14 /15 Daylesford Hospitality. 16 Catherine Law, Nigel Butler and Lindsey Vaughan. 17 Leigh Glazebrook and Catherine Maher.18 James Evetts and Peter Slatter

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Knight Frank celebrates opening of new Stow-on-the-Wold Of�ceOn 13th February 250 guests joined the partners of Knight Frank to celebrate the opening of their new office inStow-on-the-Wold.

Rupert Wakley (Office Head) welcomed the guests and Atty Beor-Roberts (Regional Chairman) says ‘There wassuch a good atmosphere, everyone seemed to be enjoying the evening, it was just like a private party’.

The party was held at Daylesford Organic Farm Shop who served delicious canapés and their own organic wines.Knight Frank have a particularly strong presence in the Cotswolds with existing offices in Cirencester,

Cheltenham, Oxford and Stratford, all with direct links to their 22 offices in London.Photography by: Simon Foster

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We live on an Island nation, so it doesn’ttake a genius to realise the importance offarming the land with due care andattention is just as vital as the preventionof over-fishing certain species in ourhome waters.We are truly blessed in Gloucestershire

with extraordinarily diverse agriculturalground. The sheer quality is unrivalled andas a result, it proudly grows some of thevery best produce in the UK. Farmershave an inbuilt and deep respect for thecountryside and, as a community, play ahuge role in its protection. In this countyof Gloucestershire I truly believe you willfind some of the most sensitive agronomyin the UK. Not only in the good times,but also the bad, our farmers will alwaysplace the integrity of their land first andforemost. Our home, The Bathurst Estate,totals some 16,000 acres of which 5,000acres is farmed in hand by CirencesterPark Farms. In addition, we acquiredKemble Park Farms last year, addinganother 2,500 acres and a 900 head strongdairy herd to the family fold – so farmingis, quite simply, in our blood and ourpassion. Our main objective is to producequality commodity arable crops, and milk,

as efficiently as possible, using economiesof scale, a motivated workforce andmodern, well maintained equipment. Butwhilst production is important, we alsotake our environmental responsibilitiesvery seriously indeed, as we all should.We remain ever conscious of the need toensure that future generations are left withan agricultural legacy that is both tenableand sustainable. It is a tough industry,make no mistake. With ever fluctuatingmarkets, cheap imports and powerfulsupermarkets, British Farming fights toremain competitive. Not only that, but theeffects of our clearly changing climate alsoplay a part in the battle – the disastrouseffects of the recent flooding in the Southillustrate only too well how vulnerable weall are to Mother Nature. But with all thisin mind, we must never forget that thefuture of farming in the United Kingdomis a collective responsibility and we needto work together as an industry, and asone, to not only maintain the sensitivemanagement of the countryside, but tocarry it safely forward for our children.

With a word from Countess Bathurst

Welcome

Researched andcompiled byRosie Webber& Eric Barton


Supported by

Agrii is fortunate to work with manyof the UK’s leading farmers whostrive to produce quality food for anever growing population. But formany of our customers, their passionfor the agricultural industry and forthe countryside in which they liveand work, runs far deeper than justa job. They invest time, energy andmoney to enhance the environment,support their local schools andcommunities and look after thosewho have served farming and nowfind themselves in need. As a

business that works in thecountryside and serves the farmingindustry, we wanted to do somethingto champion the work our customersdo that goes beyond ‘the day job’.Hence we are proud to support thisCotswold Style Magazine featureprofiling local farming families/businesses who combineprofessional food production with astrong social responsibility and raiseawareness of a side to our greatBritish farming industry that is oftennot given the recognition it deserves.

Plus a word from our Sponsor...

000 Farming for the Future Foreword March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:41 Page 103

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Agrii launched a photographycompetition to the farming communityat LAMMA on 22nd January 2014.The competition is open to all andwill support three rural charitiesthrough donations from Agrii.

Entrants can submit as manyphotographs as they like, whichthey feel best reflect the theme ofthe competition: ‘A Passion for theCountryside’. For each person thatenters, Agrii will make a donation toa central pot, which will be dividedbetween three rural charities; theAddington Fund, The RoyalAgricultural Benevolent Institutionand the Royal Highland EducationTrust. Each charity is supported byan Agrii customer, who is directlyinvolved with the organisation.

“We are fortunate to work withmany of the UK’s leading farmerswho strive to produce quality foodfor an ever growing population. Formany of our customers, their passionfor the agricultural industry and thecountryside in which they work runsfar deeper than just a job. They investtime, energy and money to enhance theenvironment, support their local schoolsand communities and look after thosemembers of the farming industry whoneed assistance.” says Mark Thomas,Head of Marketing at Agrii.

“As a business that works in thecountryside and serves the farmingindustry, we wanted to champion thework our customers’ do that goes beyondthe ‘day job’. We felt a photographycompetition was a good way to raiseawareness of these great causes andthe value of our great British farmingindustry.”

The competition has three categories;adult, under 16s and Agrii staff. Theadult and under 16s categories will be

judged by a panel of independentindustry and charity representatives,who will select six finalists. The imagesfrom the six finalists will be displayedon the Agrii stand at Cereals 2014,where visitors can vote for the overallwinner. The staff category will bejudged separately.

The overall winner of the competitionwill win a prize of £500 in electronicsvouchers. The remaining five finalistswill each receive £100 in electronicsvouchers. All six finalists plus the winnerof the staff category will have theirimage included in the Agrii 2015calendar.

Entries to the competition are viathe Agrii website, www.agrii.co.uk,where entrants can also find full termsand conditions. Entries close onMonday 12th May at 5pm.

Andrew Brealy, who farms 1,100acres in Kent, is passionate aboutgiving something back to the farmingcommunity by helping farmers andfarm workers in great need, hardshipor distress, through his involvementwith The Royal Agricultural Benevolent

Institution (RABI). He says: “The worstcan happen to anyone; but help is athand from RABI.”

“We turn our farm into an outdoorclassroom to teach local children aboutfood, farming and the countryside”,say Ian and Carole Brunton, from Fife,Scotland, who support The RoyalHighland Educational Trust (RHET).The charity provides opportunities forschool children in Scotland to visit theoutdoors and learn about food, farmingand the countryside.

As a trustee of the Addington Fund,Al Brookes, farm manager at WaddesdonEstates in Buckinghamshire, is dedicatedto increasing awareness of the plight ofthose in the farming community whoneed help, but who often don’t ask untilit is too late. “The Addington Fund helpsthe older generation retire from farmingwithout hardship and provides financialsupport for working farmers who needassistance in unexpected circumstances”,says Al. CS


Passion for the CountrysidePHOTO COMPETITIONSupports Rural Charities

Supported by

000 Farming for the Future Agrii Edit March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 17:07 Page 105

SOLD

SOLDSOLD

Sold by Public Auction

What is the value of your land?No matter how large or small, we can help you maximise the value of your farm. Let us show you the potential. Contact James Prewett for a free appraisal on 0844 225 9495.

KnightFrank.co.uk/farms

Worcestershire Guide price £2,500,000 147 acres

Glos/Oxon border Guide price £12,500,000 1,024 acres

Buckinghamshire Guide price £1,050,000 128 acres

Worcestershire Guide price £45,000 5.51 acres

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Supported by

Like many farms, business at Tagmooris very much a family affair. Havingbeen passed down through threegenerations, the Bourton on the Waterfarm is now run by Martin and JamesMacCurrach. Bought by James’grandfather Major Peter MacCurrach in1946, the business originally covered 88acres and farmed sheep and cereals,before later introducing a dairy herd.James’ father Martin took to the helm inthe 1970’s and farmed dairy cows until1984. The dairy herd was later sold sothe farm could concentrate on cereals,and a suckler herd of Charolais wasintroduced to graze the permanentpasture.

After completing his degree at theRoyal Agricultural College, Jamesreturned to Tagmoor to help run the

farm. In 2007 James used stone fromthe farm to build his own house, ElmCottage, where he lives with his wife,Anna, and three children. For James it isimportant that the Cotswold’s uniquefeatures are maintained. “In essence weare always trying to improve all aspectsof the countryside around us to ensureit is kept for generations to come.

Today Tagmoor is a mixed farm ofcereals, wheat, barley, beans and oilseedrape with a thriving suckler herd of 50cows and two bulls. James raises thecattle over two years on a grass-baseddiet to produce the finest quality, free-range beef that he sells through hisacclaimed enterprise Love My Cow.

Technology very much has a place inthe inner workings of Tagmoor farm.At the moment the farm grows spring

barley and uses a computer programmeto apply the right amount of fertiliserfor the crop. James also uses a sprayprogramme that will keep the crophealthy, allowing it to reach the maltingspecification required. According toJames, technology will play a huge rolein future farming and will aid a quickerresponse to the requirements that futuremarkets will bring.

www.lovemycow.com

Bourton on the Water Farm“In essence we arealways trying to

improve all aspects ofthe countryside aroundus to ensure it is kept

for generationsto come.”

A family affair

000 Farming for the Future James Maccurach Farmer March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:46 Page 107

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The world of farming has evolved somuch over the last 100 years that anyretrospective glance back will leaveyou in awe of what’s been happening.And that doesn’t include the recentapplication of strong science in today’s’farming communities. You can tracesome of the biggest changes throughthe advent of power, other than manand horse. Steam, then combustionput paid to many of the old ways ofworking. You might be forgiven for

thinking that farming as an occupationis ‘an old thing’ which is still ‘stuck inmud and using clapped-out old tractors’.You’d be dead wrong. Farming hascome a long way and the change inscience has made a huge impression.Over the last fifteen years, milk yieldshave increased by 33%, yields of wheathave increased by 1% and oilseed rapeyields have increased by 12%.Chavenage Farm near Tetbury inGloucestershire is set in 1700 acresof arable land and previously had alarge dairy herd, which due to numerousTB outbreaks was broken up and theland given over to crops. CarolineLowsley-Williams comments, ‘thefarm has been in our family since1891 and it is nothing short of anhonour to be the custodians of thisland and its properties’. Gone are thedays of holding up a wet finger to testthe wind direction as the satellitesystems on farm machinery now do

that…and even plot the furrows toplough. Caroline goes onto furthercomment, ’many large farms thesedays employ contractors to do themajority of their work. We usecontractors as they are up to date withall the latest science on crop husbandry,possible disease and yield. If we areto make the land work, then we mustunderstand the science that needsapplying. Long gone are the days ofthe trusty old family farm labourersand retainers’. This is in a sense is theinfluence that science has made to thehuge differences in rural life and thefarms that work the land today.To supplement the day to day activityof the farm at Chavenage they alsoopen up their Manor House forweddings, corporate days and filming,which adds another income sphere tothe activity on their land.

www.chavenage.com


Supported by

ChavenageNot just a farm

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“You might be forgiven for thinking that farmingas an occupation is ‘an old thing’ which is still

‘stuck in mud and using clapped-out old tractors’.You’d be dead wrong.”

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000 Farming for the Future Chavenage and Overbury DPS March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:48 Page 108


Overbury Farms is a sheep and arablefarm set on the historic Cotswold slopesof Bredon Hill on the WorcestershireGloucestershire boarders.It’s been in the same family for over

250 years. Covering 1,538 hectares, itsurrounds the picturesque villages ofOverbury and Conderton.Penelope Bossom, owner of Overbury

Farms, has a team led by Farm Manager,Jake Freestone. Jake manages five staff,one of whom is the full time shepherd.The farm team once had about thirtystaff, now their numbers are down tofour highly-skilled men. The largermachinery and new technology enablesthese men (who live on the estate) tocarry out all the farming activitiesthroughout the year. Again, this isthe appliance of science making adifference. All five men have seendramatic changes on the farm duringtheir lifetimes, not least in the size andcomplexity of machinery. As machinerygrew in power, the number of menrequired to do the work dropped.Simple. At Overbury Farms they growwheat, barley, feed beans, oil seed rapeand grass. The farm also allows otherfarming businesses to use some oftheir land and irrigation to grow spring onions, peas and potatoes. The soils

range from thin Cotswold brashtowards the summit of Bredon Hill,through to very light sand over-layinggravel below Overbury andConderton, and heavy Lias clay soilssouth of the Carrant Brook. It’s thismix of differing soils that delivers thechoices. The farm runs to almost 1000fton the summit of Bredon Hill and hasabout 650mm of rain each year. Well,perhaps a bit more this year. Their 1100strong sheep flock is made of up ofNorth Country Mules and some home-bred North Country Mules crossed witha Texel ram. They lamb in January andApril as they want to provide lamb fortheir customers all year round. The ewes

have access to a range of differentgrazing depending on the time of year.Stubble turnips are used to fatten lambsduring the winter months and to keepthe ewes outside when there is littleother feed available. The sheep alsoplay an important role in the arablerotation…as mobile fertiliser spreaders.And at Overbury Jake even has a blog.

Farming’s come a long way!

www.overburyfarms.co.uk

Overbury FarmA farming jewel in the

North Cotswolds…

“All �ve men have seendramatic changes onthe farm during theirlifetimes, not least in

the size and complexityof machinery.”

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000 Farming for the Future Chavenage and Overbury DPS March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:49 Page 109

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Hamish and Robert Campbell havebeen farming in the Cotswolds since1998. Over the years, the family-runSwell Buildings Farm has evolved inmany ways, including new businessventures and partnerships. Havingformed a machinery joint venture, theCotswold Farming Partnership, withneighbours including Countryfile’sAdam Henson, the business hasmanaged to cut its power usageand machinery costs.The biggest area of development

for Hamish and Robert has been theirrapeseed oil business, R-oil. In 2005,the pair diversified into the productionof cold-pressed rapeseed oil in orderto maximise returns from growingrapeseed when commodity prices werebeginning to make the growing of thecrop unviable. As one of the firstproducers of rapeseed oil, R-oil isnow distributing around 43,000 litresa month from its 1,500-acre farm.With a real emphasis on sustainability,the production of R-Oil is completely

environmentally friendly. All by-productis used as animal feed, so none of theoriginal crop is wasted, and waste oil iscollected from the catering trade andused as biodiesel to run their vehicles.In the future, Hamish and Robert

would like to pass down the businessto the next generation. “We wouldvery much like for it to continue to berun as a family business, but one cannotcontrol the future, so it will depend onthe next generation.” Hamish believesthat future farmers will have to work

closer with the end user in orderto make sure their business isviable. Seeing a growing publicdemand for transparency in thefood market, Hamish foreseesthat adapting to change will playa vital part in farming of the future.

Swell Building Farm,Lower Swell, Stow On The Wold,Gloucestershire,GL54 1HGTel: 01451 830254

Swell Buildings FarmGrowing year on year

“With a real emphasison sustainability,the production of

R-Oil is completelyenvironmentally

friendly”

000 Farming for the Future Hamish Campbell Farmer March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:52 1


As the fourth generation to take onPriory Farm, there is a lot riding onMax and Henry Pullin. Having beenbrought up on the farm, currentlyrun by their father, David, the brothersare no strangers to the hard work andeffort that goes into maintaining a 240strong dairy herd. Originally bought bythe brothers’ great grandfather in 1936,the closed herd farm has been passeddown through the decades and nowMax and Henry, aged 20 and 24respectively, are heavily involved withthe day-to-day running of the business.With its Saxon chapel and 15th

century tithe barn, the land is shroudedin history.The unique setting attracts history

enthusiasts hoping to get a glimpseinside the church, which is now over1000 years old. To maximise the fullpotential of what the historic site hasto offer, David moved his dairy herdinto an enormous milking parlour in2002, which allowed for the formerbarns to be converted into holiday

cottages. Now the cottages are letfor 80 per cent of the year, and evenattract visitors from the other side ofthe world.City-dwellers, families and even hen

parties can all get a tasteof country living at thefarm in the beautifullyrenovated cottages withthe opportunity to feedthe cows themselves, andtake picturesque strollsin the fresh country air.Max and Henry believethat this kind ofdiversification isbecoming more popularand is, in some cases,becoming essential forfarmers to stabilise theirbusinesses. Like manyfarmers in the area, the

brothers believe the Cotswolds’ scenicviews and quaint villages are majorattractions to visitors unaccustomedto countryside living. “People likecoming to the Cotswolds to see the


Meet the agricultural lawyerin a Gloucestershire law firmFrank Smith is no ordinary lawyer. Atypical day for him can include anythingfrom taking clients’ instructions to sell,purchase or let agricultural land,drafting leases of shooting rights, orworkers’ tenancy agreements and farmvisits, to writing articles to keep theindustry updated on changes inlegislation and planning. His spare timeis often spent in the country; he attendspoint-to-points, county shows, racesand local hunts.Frank is a partner and heads the

agriculture and estates department atCheltenham-based law firm Willans LLP.He provides authoritative legal adviceto farmers, farming partnerships,landowners, equestrian businesses andthose buying and/or letting agriculturalproperty. His clients range from small

landowners to multi-million poundestate owners.Frank is well known to many in the

farming community and is a nationally-recognised expert in agricultural law,equine and rural matters. UK legal

directories call him a “deal maker” andclients say he is a “trusted advisor”.He works closely with Willans’ private

client and commercial teams to providetax and estate planning advice to estatesand landowners, advice on family andmatrimonial transactions affectingfarming families and those needingcorporate or employment law assistancein a rural context.Frank says: “We are delighted to help

promote the farming industry and thefuture of farming. Young farmers arean important part of the rural economyand are the next generation that will helpto shape that future.”

Frank Smith went on location withthe Cotswold Style team to meettwo of his favourite farmers...

Max and Henry Pullin

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old Cotswold stone walls, all the old buildingsand the villages.”

As milk suppliers for Sainsbury’s, David, Maxand Henry are required to ensure that the welfareof their cows is paramount, which acres ofpastureland enable them to do. With Sainsbury’swanting to reduce the carbon footprint of themilk they sell, the farm has become moreenvironmentally friendly. Heat recovery unitsand ‘intelligent’ milking systems that only usethe minimum amount of energy required havebeen set up to help to achieve a greener, moresustainable future; something Max and Henrybelieve is becoming increasingly important forfarmers. “A lot of people are going into greenerenergy, so you’ll see a lot more solar panels, windturbines, biomass boilers and things like thatinstalled.”

Having to learn the ropes of the milk businessand the holiday cottages provide Max and Henrywith a challenging yet rewarding future. Having astrong emotional connection to the site and theirheritage, the boys will be sure to do their best tokeep the businesses as successful as they are today.And although day after day of wind and rain can betrying, the pair “wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

Jess Vaughan’s grandfather originallymoved to Hardwicke Farm in 1955,having served as a tank commanderin the Second World War. Jess’ father,Mike, took over the business in 1986to carry on the traditional low-inputfarming method, which led thebusiness to gain full organic statusin 2000. Now, the farm allows Jess tosell the milk under the aptly named,Jess’ Ladies Organic Farm Milk label.

Jess’ passion for dairy farming wasignited as a toddler sitting in themilking parlour watching her parentsmilk the cows. Jess spent much of herchildhood with her sister feeding thecalves, exploring the farm andadopting lots of pets over the years.After completing her universitydegree she joined her father to workon the farm in 2002. Together theymilk the cows personally every day,

and bottle the milk themselves attheir own dairy on the farm, beforedelivering to various farm shops,independent delis, restaurants andhealth shops. Jess believes that byavoiding intensive farming methods,the organic, non-homogenised milkfrom the farm is tastier and offersmore health benefits.

Jess considers the traditionalVaughan way of maintaining a highstandard of welfare and respect for

the cattle to bethe best methodto ensure the tastiestend product. Havinga small herd of 80allows Jess and herfather to continue totend to the cows’ wellbeing in many ways,including their diet.The ‘ladies’ graze onlush organic pasturein the summer

months and high-quality organicclover silage harvested on the farm,in the winter.

Jess’ careful consideration of theinteraction between farming practicesand countryside food chains makesfor a harmonious co-existencebetween the ‘ladies’, the naturalwildlife and farming. This attentionto detail is what Jess sees as the mostimportant way of ensuring happycows and a delicious end product.

JessVaughan

000 Farming for the Future Willans Edit March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:55 Page 113


Farming, like most other industries, hasgone through huge change over recentyears. What does the future hold goingforward? From an accountant’s pointof view I see a number of challengesfor farming for the future.

Succession will always be a challenge.As the elder generation move towardsretirement then there needs to be ahanding over of the reins to the nextgeneration, or, perhaps a sale.Retirement or sale can have huge taxconsequences and care needs to betaken in dealing with assets as well asthe business to make sure valuable taxreliefs are not lost along the way.Planning is therefore essential and needsreviewing regularly. But in the whirlwindof dealing with everything happening onthe farm on a daily basis perhaps thisdoes not get the priority it deserves. Ourchallenge will be to keep this on theagenda.

Increasingly there is a need formore detailed information on tradingperformance, broken down to coverseparate enterprises within the business.There are a number of software packagesavailable which can provide thisinformation. The reports produceddepend very much on the detail thefarmer wants and the detail put in. Thefuture does need good information onwhich to base decisions and anunderstanding of what the software cando and how it can help with decisionmaking is going to be essential.

Decisions on capital expenditure andit’s timing have become important overrecent years with surprisingly frequentchanges in the financial limits for claimingtax relief. An allowance of £100,000became £25,000, then became £250,000and will become £25,000 at the end ofthe year if no changes are announcedshortly. Will these limits change asfrequently going forward? We don’tknow but information is needed onprofits to make sure capital expenditure

is incurred in the period when tax reliefis maximised.

Why else might good financialinformation be needed? There have beena number of “once in a lifetime” eventsover recent years and we are being toldto expect more of these going forward,whether in this country or overseas. Themarket place is global now. This year,again, many are dealing with floods. Taxis paid on past profits before the actualresults for a year become known. Havingearly information on profits or otherwisefor the financial year affected by suchevents can mean early action to preventtax being paid when not necessary, inturn reducing the cash flow burdenwhen times are not so good. Sometimesthe effect of such events, if overseasfor example, can be positive here andknowing the possible effect can aid thedecision making process, for examplewhether or not to buy equipment.

Diversification has beentaking place and will no doubtcontinue. Renewables havebeen the most recent additionto the scene. Farming for thefuture will for many mean aharvest of a different kind,producing power for the farmand perhaps to feed in to the

grid. Where planning approval is neededperhaps this will be more forthcominggiven weather events but tax planning isalso needed again to make sure reliefs arenot lost or impaired.

Renewables are the not the only meansof diversification available, there areplenty of other routes that farmers havegone down in the past and there will beothers in the future. Often these haveother consequences to just producinganother income stream, sometimesadverse consequences, which can be dealtwith by perhaps a new business structure.

So from an accountants point of viewfarming for the future will meancontinuous planning, regular contactwith professionals before changes tomake sure pitfalls are avoided and goodinformation on which to base actionsand decisions. Perhaps these have alwaysbeen a requirement but the tools havenot been as available. There is a saying inFrance that might sum this up, but I amnot going there!

Randall & Payne Accountantswww.randall-payne.co.uk

Tim Watkins is a Partner at Randall and Payneand has a passion for agriculture and Farming


Farming for the future– an accountant’s viewpoint

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“Farming for the futurewill for many mean aharvest of a differentkind, producing power

for the farm and perhapsto feed in to the grid”

Left & Right: Nikki Cairnsand Tim Watkins

000 Farming for the Future Randall and Payne Edit March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:57 Page 114

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000 Farming for the Future Randall and Payne Edit March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 16:57 Page 115

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK hasannounced some great offers on itsmost popular and iconic vehicles,available at Cheltenham and GloucesterMitsubishi. The special deals are beingoffered on the rugged and reliable L200pick-up, innovative Outlander SUV andthe legendary 4x4 Shogun.You could be behind the wheel of a

brand new Outlander for £249 a month– and benefitting from three years’ freeservicing.Intelligent, economical and luxurious,

the latest-generation Outlander is packedwith clever technological features. It hasachieved a five-star Euro NCAP safetyrating; boasts best-in-class fuel efficiencyand CO2 emissions; and is lighter,quieter and more refined than ever.What’s more, it offers impeccable ridecomfort and handling.Another famous member of the

Mitsubishi line-up, the legendaryShogun, is now a more attractivebuy than ever.The seven-seater long wheelbase

version of the car starts at just £28,599with 0% APR. The Shogun has built upa reputation for being tough, reliable,perfect for towing with a go-anywhere

off-road capability; and has woncountless awards too.Appealing to drivers who demand a

vehicle that can tackle the toughest andmost inhospitable of terrains yet alsodeliver a thoroughly composed on-roaddrive, Shogun buyers can be sure thaton top of being great off-road, thevehicle can meet the needs of familiesand business buyers.Another special deal means that the

rugged and reliable L200 Warrior(manual) is available to business usersfor just £189 a month, plus VAT, untilMarch 31st, 2014.For customers looking for the ultimate

pick-up, there’s only one choice –Mitsubishi’s L200. It deserves thatdescription for one very simple reason;it’s a vehicle that’s not only up to thejob but goes beyond expectations.The go-anywhere pick-up is tough

enough to tackle any terrain and comeswith a five-year/125,000 mile warranty.And right now, customers at

Cheltenham and Gloucester Mitsubishican get behind the wheel at a special,reduced priced, starting at £14,999plus VAT with 0% APR.Dale Bedwell, Brand Manager at

Cheltenham and Gloucester Mitsubishi,said: “We are delighted to let everyoneknow about the special offers that havejust been introduced on L200, Outlanderand Shogun.“These are incredibly impressive

vehicles and form a strong line-upof great deals here at Cheltenhamand Gloucester Mitsubishi.“We look forward to welcoming

customers old and new and we willbe happy to explain more aboutthese exceptional vehicles.”

For more information, callCheltenham and GloucesterMitsubishi on 01452 715870 or visitthe showroom at 1 Vernon Court,Meteor Business Park, CheltenhamRd E, Staverton, GloucesterGL2 9QG.

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Beautifully tough vehicles

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COTSWOLD STYLE MAGAZINEsupports

www.cotswoldstyle.co.uk118 � COTSWOLD STYLE MARCH 2014


Whatever you think a farmer’swife should look like, think again!Farmers’ wives come inmany different guises:

THE DOES-IT-ALLFARMER’S WIFEShe is married to the farm firstand the farmer second. She willeffortlessly manage the day-to-dayrunning of the farm alongside thefarmer; from meeting the bankmanager to lambing ewes, orbedding down cattle sheds totractor driving for any given task.She will have already plannedtonight’s supper, as well as makinglunch for all, looking after themultitude of muddy laundry as well.The housework may suffer and strawand hay may well be omnipresent in thehome, but neither she nor the farmermind very much, as every other needhas been catered for by this very capableand hardworking superwoman whoalways wears trousers, except forweddings and funerals.

THE FARMHOUSEHOME-MAKERShe lives for her AGA, making andbaking for her farmer-husband, herfamily and any visitors who may dropby. Her role is to look after them all aswell as their home, and making suretheir every need is met. Her harvesttea-in-the-field is the best by far (all thefarm-workers agree) and her cakes andtray-bakes are second-to-none. She takesgreat pride in her garden too, which is asimmaculate and well looked after as herhome. She is well turned out, but rarelydressy, which is just how she likes it. Sheis kind and understanding and will nevercomplain; she enjoys her life for she’s atthe top of her game, leaving no family orfarmhouse stone unturned. This meanswhen the work is done, she has the timeand freedom to pop into town, havelunch with a friend or play the occasionalgame of tennis.

THEWIFE OF A FARMERShe is different from the traditionalfarmer’s wife, predominantly becauseshe doesn’t make jam, she wears prettyshoes and owns more than one handbag.She has had a successful career and nowputs her economics degree to good usemanaging the farm accounts. She is agreat cook and loves to entertain aroundthe farmhouse table. She will alwayspresent many courses, showcasing herown culinary prowess as well as theirfarm’s own produce, while drinkinghome-grown sloe gin in ample quantity.She loves her family and she loves tomake the most of everything her farmlife has to offer. But the wife of a farmerlikes the best of both worlds; she likesto have her home-made cake and eat it.Meaning she likes the finer things in lifebut loves equally the rough-and-readyfarm lifestyle her world provides.

Regardless of where you sit in thefarm-wifery stereotypes, one thing iscertain. You will, from time-to-time,need to get your hands dirty, whetherthat’s bottle feeding lambs, deliveringlate-night sustenance to hard-workingfarmers, shifting bales or simply whippingup a batch of Mary Berry’s flapjacks. It’smore than just being a wife; it’s a lifestylechoice, and one that should not be takenlightly. Farming, in particular livestockfarming, is a 365 days-a-year challenge.

And day or night there will always bework that needs to be done. This meansweekends are out and holidays limited.But it is far from doom and gloom; yes,it’s tough for both farmer and wife, butwhat a playground for you and yourchildren. Fields, ponds, woodlands andwildlife, all just there, all part of yourback garden, calling you to stray from thefootpaths that others cannot; and explore,build dens, light fires, toast marshmallows,catch tadpoles and follow animal tracksin the snow. What a wonderful life and Iwouldn’t swap it for the world. CS


The Diary of a farmer’s wife(or in my case, the wife of a farmer)

By Sarah Speakman

TOP 10 TIPS fora Farmer’s Wife1. Be capable and practical; you neverknow when you may be called upon tohelp out. Being able to drive a tractoris desirable, but not essential!2. Always keep the kettle warm and acake in the tin; after a morningtoughing it out in the wind and rain,every farmer needs a cup of coffee anda piece of cake when he comes in todry off.3. Own a proper pair of wellies. Youwill need them.4. Understand the farm will alwayscome first!5. Expect to spend the summer byyourself, just you and the children;harvest can take many months andfarmers will work through the night,day-in-day-out, when they can, to getit done.6. Be frugal! Conspicuous spending isill-advised and frowned upon by manyfarmers who have their eye on thelatest Massey Ferguson!7. Be ready to help move livestock atany time. It is said that many a farmmarriage is made or broken movingsheep or cattle!8. Be prepared for your slow-cookingbeef to be usurped by a newborn lambin need of TLC and gentle incubationin the bottom oven of the AGA.9. All meals must be able to bedelayed or brought forward at amoment’s notice!10. Be prepared for yourentrepreneurial farm diversificationideas to be dismissed utterly, butreappear, completely endorsed, assomeone else’s idea at a later date!

000 Farming for the Future Farmers Wife Edit March 14:Layout 1 24/02/2014 17:04 Page 119

Farming for the Future Supplement

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