HRH meets the Bethney family who farm at Congreave Farm
HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron, The Prince’s Countryside Fund visited Congreave Farm, Stanton-in-the-Peak, on 23rd December to meet with farmers affected by the flooding of the River Derwent in November 2019.
Farms in the Matlock valley were damaged by flood water up to seventeen foot higher than usual, losing stock and forage. HRH met with local families who had been affected, including Peter and Deborah Bettney, Michael and Ellie Wynne, Dean Greatorex, Ken and Kimberley Trickett, and Stuart Fairfax. HRH held a conversation with the farmers about the flooding, and the impact that it has had on their families, their livestock and their business.
HRH meets farmers affected by the recent flooding
Also round the table were Lord Edward Manners who owns the Haddon Estate, Claire Saunders and Diane Spark of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Bill Young from the Addington Fund, and Andrew Ward from Forage Aid, who had assisted some of the flooded farms. In response to the flooding in October, The Prince’s Countryside Fund released £50,000 from their Emergency Fund to support farming families whose livelihoods and farms had been affected.
Michael Wynn, who farms in Snitterton, said, “We lost 350 bales of silage in the worst floods I have ever seen. It was marvellous that the Prince of Wales took the time to visit us with all his other commitments and we are now getting sorted with the help of Forage Aid.”
Photos courtesy of Andrew Eyley/AE Media
The Prince’s Countryside Fund was established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010 and aims to enhance the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life. We believe that the British countryside is our most valuable natural asset and its contribution to our everyday life cannot be underestimated.
To help support and secure the future of the countryside we:
- Provide more than £1m each year in grant and programme funding to projects across the UK thanks to support from our partners, events and donations
- Celebrate and promote the value of the countryside
- Lead projects to strengthen farm businesses, such as The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme
- Commission research into issues affecting farming families and rural communities
- Bring together individuals and businesses to help tackle current challenges
- Help communities in crisis through our Emergency Fund
To find out more, visit the Fund’s website at www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk