»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË

County Update

After months of running around the lanes of Herefordshire, I’m both nervous and excited that my London Marathon challenge is finally here. Thank you to everyone who has generously sponsored me or supported my fundraising events. I’m really pleased to be starting the race having hit the £20,000 mark with £7,500 raised for St Michael’s Hospice, and over £13,000 raised for We are Farming Minds who I am running the marathon in aid of. This will definitely give me the motivation to push through the tough miles! If you haven’t yet donated and would like to, you can do so .

A reminder that next Thursday, 1 May at 7pm, the Ross & Ledbury NFU branch is hosting a charity quiz in aid of RABI and We are Farming Minds at The Royal Oak, Much Marcle, HR8 2ND. This will cost £15 per person and includes food. Teams of up to 10. Please contact [email protected] to book your team in.

Herefordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Herefordshire Council is currently developing Herefordshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) which will be used to identify nature priority areas in the county. There are various events being held by the Council across Herefordshire over the next few weeks for farmers to attend. During these sessions you will be able to see maps of your farm to check biodiversity important areas have been recorded correctly. These maps could impact potential funding, or land development opportunities, in the future so do try and attend a session. Planned sessions so far include:

• Wednesday 23 April 3-5pm: Bad Harvest Barn, Blakemere, HR2 9PX
• Thursday 24 April 3-5pm: Townsend Farm, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7JE
• Friday 2 May 9-10:30am: Whittern Farms, HR5 3JA

Register your attendance .

Farm for the Future – Royal Countryside Fund

Do you want help navigating agricultural policy changes including help with understanding ELMs and SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive)?

If you’re an owner-occupied or tenant farm in England that received BPS, The Royal Countryside Fund’s Farm for the Future programme is in its final year, offering a last chance for free support which includes a 1-2-1 session with a consultant to talk about your farm.

Its online workshops can be joined from the comfort of your own home via Zoom to help you and your farm business navigate policy changes and become more resilient and sustainable.

To find out more and sign up to the online group, contact Christina Hutchings via email [email protected] or call 07715 353 546 or visit

Call for Participants: Advancing Fairness in the UK Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sector – University of Leicester

Are you into fresh fruit and or vegetable cultivation in the UK? University of Leicester are conducting a study on advancing fairness in fresh fruit and vegetable sector and would love to hear from you!

Participation in the study involves farmers who are into the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables in the UK and who are suppliers to large retailers in the UK.

All data collected will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and anonymity based on University of Leicester's guideline and used solely for academic purposes.

To participate or learn more, please Visit  or contact Nike directly through [email protected].

Members support would be invaluable to the success of this research.

Questionnaire for pilot study -

Be vigilant of scam callers

If you receive a call that looks like it is from NFU Headquarters and are unsure then please hang up, do not pass on any personal details.

You can contact NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458 to check if we are doing any calls or promotions.

Cyber Crime

The Midlands NFU held an online member meeting with WMRCCU in autumn 2023, the opportunity to register with them is still available, this is aimed to improve your business’s cyber security.

With membership at the WMRCCU, you will receive regular tips and guidance on how to firm up your business’s cyber security. 

Register to become a member (for free) today at 

Charity Quiz

In aid of RABI and We are Farming Minds

Date

1 May 2025

Venue & Timings

7pm at The Royal Oak, Much Marcle, HR8 2ND

Cost

£15pp which includes food.

Booking

To register your place(s) please contact [email protected]

PCC Rural Crime Virtual Session

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion would like to invite you and your members to attend an online session he is hosting on rural crime. 

With his next meeting with the Chief Constable focusing on this issue, the PCC wants to hear from farmers, landowners and residents about their views, experiences and concerns to ensure they are at the heart of change. The PCC will be hosting an online session alongside West Mercia Police for those who live or work in Herefordshire & Worcestershire

The feedback received from both sessions will be raised directly with West Mercia Police’s Chief Constable with a recording of the meeting made available after the meeting in June.

Date

19 May 2025

Venue & Timings

Via online at 6pm

How to Register

Anyone interested in attending can register their interest by 12pm on Friday 16 May by visiting .