26/01/2025
January magic…..
So this last weekend was spent at the conference, held near Nottingham (yep, I left East Anglia, nearly went on a motorway and wore clean clothes for an entire weekend. Rare and exciting events!).
I could go on and on about how inspiring it was, how good to catch up with old friends and make new ones, but instead I will share the single point that has stuck most memorably with me:
We are all seeking to mitigate the challenges we face as growers. Most notably, those which stem from our changing climate, but also the economic pressures which affect all those who earn their living from the land. There is a wealth of fantastic experience, wisdom and knowledge out there to help us in each of these key areas, as we seek to grow and future proof our respective businesses and we were exceptionally fortunate to hear from some amazing speakers who shared their knowledge so generously at the conference. But, as observed by the amazing Roisin during her trip to New Zealand in the aftermath of the most catastrophic weather event, it was the relationships and community between neighbouring farmers which allowed them to support each other, in the most extreme of conditions. It is people helping people that is always our last line of defence against disaster.
So whilst we must and can invest in our knowledge, in our land and in ourselves as strategically necessary, we must also prioritise investing heavily in our communities. We must be generous with each other, supportive of each other, hold each other up and celebrate one another. We never know when it will be our turn to need help, so whilst we are fortunate enough to give it, we must give without reservation.
Huge thanks to all the speakers at the conference, and to the incredible team who worked so very hard to pull it all together. You were all so generous and our community benefits enormously as a result.
