BELLINGHAM NEWS
From the Hexham Courant Published on July 24 2008.
THERE are few businesses in the country which have
acquired such a high profile in such a short space of time as Kielder
Organic Meats, based at Dunterley Farm in Bellingham. It was only
established five years ago, and has already had the future King of
England and his wife come knocking at the door.
Now I hear that Colin and Michelle Anderson and family
are back on national television next week, as part of the BBC2
programme Jimmy Docherty’s Farming Heroes.
A film crew spent two days at Dunterley, and up around
Falstone, where the Andersons were filmed gathering the fell (rounding
up sheep for the uninitiated) which made such a good piece of film it
is featured in the series’ opening titles.
I hear that daughter Tracey’s horseback cameo cowgirl appearance is something to behold!
The programme airs at 9pm.
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COUPLE WILL FEATURE ON TV AS 'FARMING HEROES'
From The Journal Published on July 21 2008, by Karen Dent
A COUPLE of organic farmers who also
have their own retail business are to appear on television later this
month to be recognised as farming heroes.
Colin and Michelle Anderson moved to
Dunterley Farm, Bellingham, in 2001, where they established Kielder
Organic Meats. They also have land near Kielder Forest, where their
organically reared sheep, cattle and pigs are reared.
The enterprise, which butchers as well
as produces its own organic meat, will feature on Jimmy Doherty’s
Farming Heroes on BBC2 next week, Tuesday, July 29.
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“We were farming more or less
organically, so we thought we may as well go the whole way,” said
Michelle, who had been farming for 20 years before opening Kielder
Organic Meats.
“We don’t use nitrogen fertiliser. It’s made a big difference.
“People really like organic. The
way things are going, people want free range animals. It’s the
best thing we have ever done.”
The couple were chosen to appear on the
TV show as an excellent version of a family farm. The TV crew spent two
days filming at the enterprise.
“People can see how we are farming
here. People are really interested in the animals where they are looked
after and they are outside,” said Michelle.
But this isn’t Kielder Organic Meats’ first brush with fame.
The enterprise was visited by Prince
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who invited the Andersons to the
organic Duchy Home farm at Highgrove last summer.
The Andersons, who employ five full-time
and two part-time staff, converted disused farm buildings into a
butchery to add further value to the enterprise.
“The traditional buildings
weren’t being fully utilised and were ripe for conversion, and we
wanted to be more in control of our own destiny,” said Michelle.
The farm sells its meat via its own farm shop, which stocks organic
vegetables and eggs from the couple’s free range hens.
They also have a twice weekly stall at
Hexham market, and supply restaurants and other farm shops. The venture
received a “great” response when Michelle took a stall at
The Journal’s first Taste North East England Food and Drink
Festival at Gibside in April.
TEN THINGS TO EAT BEFORE THEY DIE
From The Journal Published on May 2008.
EAT!’ NewcastleGateshead food festival’s closing event and
gala dinner promises to be a spectacular occasion held in association
with North East Culinary and Trade Association (NECTA) and Slow Food
UK.
The extra special menu features at least ten ingredients from the Slow
Food’s Ark of Taste list which protects endangered treasures of
the food world. These local, artisan foods are now made by just a
handful of producers and include such delicacies as Herdwick mutton,
wild Ethiopian coffee, Irish raw milk cheese and Hungarian magalica
sausage from the famous woolly pigs.
The evening is designed to be highly enjoyable but also to highlight
serious messages about those traditional foods which are in grave
danger of extinction. The evening will also include entertainment from
magicians and musicians, a festival award-giving ceremony and foodie
goodie bags to take home.
The gala dinner takes place on Thursday May 22 at Marriott
Hotel,Gosforth Park. Tickets normally cost £85 but Culture Club
members can get tickets at the reduced price of £75.
The event is sponsored by Kielder Organic Meats.
Demanding a second bite
From The Journal Published on April 20 2008.
By JANE HALL, THE JOURNAL
WHEN can we do it all again? So say stallholders who attended the first
ever Journal Taste North East England Food and Drink Festival at the
weekend.
So successful was the event run in
association with the National Trust at the Gibside estate near Rowlands
Gill that many exhibitors had all but run out of produce by lunch-time,
and were forced to make emergency calls for more stock to be brought in.
Others have already signed-up new
customers as 10,000 plus descended on Gibside, drawn by the chance to
not only buy some of the finest foods available anywhere in Britain but
watch cookery demonstrations by local celebrity chefs and meet
TV’s Hairy Biker, Simon King.
Michelle Anderson of Kielder Organic
Meats admitted she was unprepared for the spending frenzy that erupted
when last Saturday’s event opened to the public at 10.30am.
She said: “I expected the festival
to be busy, but I never expected the response I got. I had sold out in
two hours. It was crazy. I had brought 10 trays of meat, which is a
lot, but it just flew off the stall. It was the shortest time
I’ve ever sold that much.
“And the response I have had since
has been fantastic. I have had a lot of positive feedback since
Saturday and I now have people ordering for next week. Your event has
given me new customers.
“I know the pudding woman on the
stall next to me also sold out. People came with money to spend, and
they weren’t shy in spending it. I was doing tastings of our
sausages and I had to stop cooking because there were so many people
clamouring to buy. I remember looking up at one point and there were so
many people I couldn’t see across their heads.”
Mrs Anderson, 44, who started Kielder
Organic Meats two-and-a-half years ago with husband Colin, 43, in
Bellingham, Northumberland, added: “We would love to do another
Journal food and drink festival.”
Her sentiments have been echoed by Ian
Nixon, 29, of Spicy Monkey. The Gateshead-based business which
specialises in spices and curry pastes and marinades was left with only
a handful of jars by close of play – leaving Mr Nixon and
girlfriend Gemma Reynolds, 28, wondering how they were going to stock
their stall for Sunday’s Newcastle Quayside Market which they
regularly attend.
“The food and drink festival far
exceeded our expectations. Because The Journal had never done an event
like this before we hadn’t expected it to be so successful.
“But it was brilliant. We pretty much sold out and we had to scrape together produce to sell for the Quayside.
“If you ever do anything like this again, count us in.”
Chris and Shirley Donkin sold more than
400 loaves, 300 savoury pies and hundreds of scones. The couple, who
run Northumberland bakers J Donkin, had doubled their original order
for the day as publicity for the Gibside event grew in momentum. Mrs
Donkin said: “For us you really have to try and plan as all our
food is perishable. But we sold out of everything. We brought extra
cakes as back-up as we knew they would keep longer than the bread if
they didn’t sell, but even they went. It was superb.
“We go to other established food
festivals, but we sold more at Gibside, which is excellent as it was
the first such event.
“In terms of the mix of stalls and
people who came, it was fantastic. We would definitely do another
Journal food and drink festival.”
Alison Taylor of Bedlington-based Food
Local Food which delivers the best quality regional produce to
people’s homes, taking away the need for consumers to drive
between retailers themselves, gave away more than 1,500 leaflets and
secured at least 10 new orders on the day.
“By the time we had closed up shop
we had 10 new orders – four taken at the stall and six by the
time I got back home. But I know we have had more orders on our website
now than we had for the whole of last week, and I know they have come
through The Journal event.
“We sold hundreds of pounds worth
of vegetables and we were exhausted by the end of the day. But we would
do it all again.”
Bring Your Tastebuds To Life
From The Journal Published on April 15 2008.
By JANE HALL, THE JOURNAL
A STATELY home in Gateshead will become the culinary capital of the
North East later this month thanks to a gastronomic extravaganza
organised by The Journal.
Gibside near Rowlands Gill will be the
setting for the first ever Journal Taste North East England Campaign
Food and Drink Festival in association with the National Trust.
Delicacies and delights from across the
region will be on offer to visitors as more than 50 of the area’s
finest food and drink suppliers and producers gather alongside local
celebrity chefs for the one-day event on April 26.
Set against one of the grandest backdrops
that any food and drink festival could boast, the joint Journal and
National Trust event will be a celebration and demonstration of great
North East cooking and the excellent produce available between the
Rivers Tweed and Tees.
Located on the Green Close next to the
ruined ancestral home of the Bowes-Lyons family, not only will the
festival be worth coming to just for Gibside’s spectacular
vistas, winding paths and grassy open spaces spanning 400 acres, but
for the chance to enjoy some of the finest produce on offer anywhere in
Britain.
From the farmers to the chefs, the
festival will whet your appetite by tasting, selling and cooking game
and fish, tasty soups and bread, succulent meats and tempting puddings,
homemade sweets and jams, fresh vegetables and free range local eggs.
You can then wash all that down in the real ale and wine tent.
With a cookery demonstration marquee
sponsored by Waitrose of Hexham that will house the Northumbria Larder
mobile kitchen, you will be hard pushed to keep your stomach empty for
long.
It is here that local BBC MasterChef
finalist David Hall; Journal columnist Bill Oldfield; Richard Sim of
the Made in Northumberland food project; Tony Binks of the
award-winning Barrasford Arms gastro-pub and Gareth Marks, fresh from
hosting his three-month Tyne Tees TV show, A Taste of the North, and
now of Newcastle’s Persian-influenced Flatbread Cafe, will cook
up a storm using ingredients supplied by stallholders at a series of
30-minute food demonstrations throughout the action-packed day.
Also on hand will be lifelong food lover
and TV’s Hairy Biker, Simon King from Prudhoe, in Northumberland,
who, like the other chefs who have signed-up for the festival, will be
giving his time for free in support of The Journal Taste North East
England Campaign launched in January to encourage consumers, retailers
and hoteliers and restaurateurs to buy local, use local and eat local
for the good of the region’s health and economy.
Mr King, who has found fame as one-half
of the BBC’s unconventional cookery duo, The Hairy Bikers, with
long-time friend Dave Myers from Cumbria, is a keen advocate of North
East produce. Earlier this year he and Mr Myers each championed quality
produce on their own doorsteps in The Hairy Bikers Come Home – A
Winter Special, the first time North East food had been promoted in its
own show on national prime-time television.
Last night Mr King said: “I am
impassioned about local food because I care. I just want to give people
a hand. I think The Journal Taste North East England Food and Drink
Festival in association with the National Trust is a great opportunity
for everyone to get together and see what other producers are doing,
see what is out there and really get a vibe going about the wonderful
produce we have in this region.
“It is also a great opportunity to
have a giggle. I’m very flattered that I have been asked to get
involved and I look forward very much to meeting everybody, from
stallholders to the public.
“I will be at the event for at least a couple of hours, so come along and meet me.
“I’ll sign whatever part of
the body anyone wants to offer up. Just get along to Gibside and show
your support for our local food and drink producers. If we don’t
support them, they won’t be there.”
The day, which runs from 10.30am-3.30pm,
will also feature a selection of craft people as well as face painting
for children to run alongside the main event.
For many of the produce stallholders this
will be the first time they have appeared at such an event. Scores of
exhibitors will be making a rare public appearance, attracted to the
Food and Drink Festival by The Journal’s Taste campaign and the
involvement of the National Trust.
Journal Editor Brian Aitken said:
“This event promises to be a spectacular day of gastronomic
delights for everyone of all ages. We are cooking up lots of treats for
stallholders and the public alike, and thanks to the line-up of
producers, suppliers and chefs we have, we expect to attract visitors
from far and wide.
“Our sole aim is to get The
Journal’s buy local, use local, eat local campaign message out
there and ensure we have a thriving North East food and drink industry
we can be proud of going into the future. It is good for us and good
for the local economy.
“We are indebted to the National
Trust for teaming up with us and allowing us to hold this festival in
such spectacular surroundings at Gibside.
“The National Trust in the North
East has been an avid supporter of local food for many years, and The
Journal looks forward to working with the Trust on future projects in
support of our artisan food and drink producers.”
KIELDER ORGANIC MEATS WILL BE A STALL HOLDER AT THE EVENT.
Bytes with bites at village cafe
From the Hexham Courant Published on Mar 14 2008.
By GEMMA SOMERVILLE
A NEW North Tyne business looks set to catapult Bellingham into the 21st century.
IT Bites, owned by husband and wife team Jason and Helen Spiller,
allows customers to combine checking their emails with grabbing a
coffee at the premises on Lock Up Lane.
The Internet cafe, which opened for business in January, is home to two
iMac computers with fast wireless broadband access as well as printing,
photocopying, faxing and photo printing facilities for the village.
But there’s more than just the latest technology to tempt people
through the door. For the cafe offers home-made sandwiches, cakes and
scones, using local produce where available as well as stocking a range
of Fairtrade produce.
A 43-inch television with the latest in gaming technology, including an
Xbox and Nintendo 64, has also fuelled the creation of a successful
after-school gaming club for youngsters in the village.
And for Jason, the new business provides an opportunity for him to
combine his skills in catering and IT, while Helen works as a primary
school teacher in Newcastle.
He said: “My wife Helen and I relocated to Bellingham exactly one
year ago from Lancaster.
“I’m from South Shields originally and studied at Lancaster
University for a BSc in digital imaging which I completed in 1999.
“I’ve worked in catering on and off since I was 18, and IT since I graduated.
“I also teach IT to adults part time at Bellingham Middle School
and Queen Elizabeth in Hexham. So I really am able to combine the two
things I enjoy doing.”
Based in premises which have long been renowned as a popular eating and
meeting place in the village, the cafe is also licensed and the couple
intend to sell speciality beers and spirits for consumption on and off
the premises.
With many of the ingredients needed for the menu sourced from the Tyne
Valley, including meat supplied by Kielder Organic Meats at Dunterley
Farm, Jason favours the use of organic and free range products.
“We try to source as much of our produce as locally as we can and
also only use organic or free range meat and dairy,” Jason
explained.
“We also use Fairtrade produce in our cooking and where possible
we only use imported produce from a Fairtrade source. We also sell a
range of Fairtrade produce from Traidcraft.
“It’s also our intention, at a later date, to sell a range
of goods produced in Northumberland, including preserves, cheese and
charcuterie.”
ROYAL MUTTON CAMPAIGN HELPS PRESERVE BRITAIN’S RURAL LANDSCAPES
21st January 2008
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
will visit a North Yorkshire sheep farm tomorrow (Tuesday January 22)
as part of his support for the Mutton Renaissance Campaign.
The Prince will visit Grange Farm, near
Pickering, which is farmed by Tim Wilson, who also owns a chain of
butchers’ shops.
In addition to sheep, Mr Wilson also
rears pigs and cattle on his farm. During the day, guests will hear
about the challenges facing livestock farmers and discuss continued
consumer demand coupled with falling returns for producers. They will
also consider the best ways to achieve strength for the livestock
sector and through this, develop sustainability for farming communities
and deliver greater protection for the countryside.
The Mutton Renaissance Campaign is a
personal initiative of The Prince’s, launched in 2004 to get
mutton back onto the nation’s dinner plates and create a new
market opportunity for farmers.
Since then, the campaign has achieved
considerable success with over 400 businesses having registered their
involvement and 250 of these having elected to appear on the
initiative’s website. Many of these are small farms from upland
areas that sell their mutton direct from the farm. Others include
leading restaurants where chefs such as Brian Turner, Mark Hix, John
Williams and Jeremy Lee celebrate the meat’s taste credentials.
The vital role that sheep play in grazing
British hillsides, and the habitat management that this delivers, is a
key theme of the campaign. Generations of farmers and their flocks have
sculpted upland Britain and a growing market for mutton will help
ensure the future of the moors and fells, which are cherished by
millions of people in this country.
John Thorley, chairman of the Mutton
Renaissance Club, said: “A sustainable market for quality mutton
is emerging giving sheep farmers more reasons to keep their animals
grazing on the hills. By doing this, the sheep perform many hidden
roles. This includes the upkeep of rural landscapes, keeping them open
and accessible for visitors and discouraging the spread of dangerous
parasites such as ticks.”
Welfare standards are also important in
the production of Renaissance Mutton as farmer Tim Wilson explains:
“Renaissance Mutton encourages a focus on quality and through
this increased animal welfare, as we send well-finished ewes to local
abattoirs in small batches. We then use the whole carcase, from primal
joints for slow roasting or braising to all the minor cuts that we use
in casseroles, pies and sausages.
“By finding a niche market for
these ewes, the Mutton Renaissance campaign has increased the value of
older stock to farms such as this. In 2003, my flock was half the size
it is today and I knew that I could sell all of our older ewes through
our own butchers shops - about 100 each year,” he said.
“Today, with a much bigger flock, the growing interest in quality
mutton means that I’ll sell 400 ewes this year.”
Well-known Yorkshire chef Brian Turner is
the president of the Academy of Culinary Arts, one of the organisations
at the heart of the Mutton Renaissance Campaign. He will lead a team of
Academy chefs to create a mutton menu for The Prince at Grange Farm.
He said: “The best mutton is a meat
with a distinct flavour but one that had been almost forgotten until
HRH The Prince of Wales stepped in. His passion for farming and good
food has encouraged chefs to reappraise mutton and what a treasure we
are discovering.
“Its subtle gamey flavour is an
ideal partner for winter root vegetables, long slow cooking and an
equal match for spiced dishes from North Africa, the Middle East and
the Caribbean. It’s also great in curries. I hope to see it more
frequently on seasonal menus and also in butchers shops as demand
increases from home cooks.”
A new report (see Notes to Editors) shows
that the market for quality mutton can continue to achieve steady
growth. Before the launch of the campaign, consumption of this type of
mutton was considered to be minimal. In the report, released at the
start of 2007, the market volume was estimated at 423 tonnes. A
supplement to the report, newly published (January 2008), suggests that
market volumes have risen by 21% to 511 tonnes.
Stretching from October 1, until the end
of March, the season marks the period when Renaissance Mutton is at its
best after enjoying a diet of summer grasses and heather and an
extended maturation period.
The Mutton Renaissance Campaign is
co-ordinated by the National Sheep Association and the Academy of
Culinary Arts and is funded by the English Beef & Lamb Executive
and Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales.
ENDS
For further editorial information, interviews, photography or recipes contact:
Matt Exley, Carole Baldwin or Menna Davies at Kabassa Marketing Communications
T: 0117 924 4300 E: matt@kabassa.co.uk / carole@kabassa.co.uk / menna.davies@hotmail.com
No room at market for top meat farmer
From the Journal, Published on Nov 12 2007.
By Liz Hands, The Journal.
ONE of the region’s top organic farmers cannot get a stall on a
farmers’ market in Newcastle – because there are too many
people selling meat.
Colin and Michelle Anderson, who run
Kielder Organic Meats at Dunterley Farm, Bellingham, Northumberland,
have been farming for nearly 20 years but moved into organic production
five years ago.
Since then they have featured in an
episode of Gary Rhodes’s Local Food Heroes, where they battled it
out with the other five nominees to be named the North-East’s top
meat producer.
The family also received a royal visit last November, when Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had a tour of their farm.
But when thecouple applied to sell their
produce at the monthly Newcastle farmers’ market, they were told
that no pitches were available.
Mrs Anderson said: “My husband and
I have been farming for more than 20 years, but we only set up Kielder
Organic Meats some 15 months ago.
“Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength.
“But getting our produce out to the public who demand it has been difficult at times.
“We have a shop at the farm, and we
trade on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Hexham on a patch owned by Tynedale
Council, but we also wanted to be able to sell our meat at the various
specialist farmers’ markets that take place across the
North-East.”
The family – who breed cattle,
sheep and pigs on their 1,600-acre land – began organic farming
five years ago and say this is another reason why there should be space
made available for them in Newcastle.
Mrs Anderson said: “Organic food is in high demand.
“People are screaming out for it,
so you’d think securing a pitch at a market for local goods would
be pretty simple.
“I know there are quite a few meat
sellers at the market in Newcastle, but only one of them offers organic
produce. He regularly runs out because demand is so high, so
there’s surely room for another seller.”
A Newcastle City Council spokesman said:
“We have a responsibility to provide a variety of choice at the
farmers’ market and already have seven or eight meat producers
among the 24 stalls. Therefore, our customers are very well catered for.
“We have regular, loyal traders who
have built up a loyal following and comply fully with our
farmers’ market regulations.
“We are currently oversubscribed, but there is an opportunity to apply for a place every six months.”
The Newcastle farmers’ markets take
place on the first Friday of each month, with a range of stalls
representing the local agricultural industry.
Organic Food is Healthier - Study
From The Guardian. Published on 29/10/2007
By IAN SAMPLE, Science Correspondent
Some organic foods, including fruit,
vegetables and milk, may be more nutritious than non-organic produce,
according to an investigation by British scientists.
Early results from a £12m study
showed that organic fruit and vegetables contained up to 40% more
antioxidants than non-organic varieties, according to Professor Carlo
Leifert at Newcastle University, who leads the EU-funded Quality Low
Input Food project.
Larger differences were found in milk,
with organic varieties containing more than 60% more antioxidants and
healthy fatty acids, he said.
Antioxidant-rich food is often promoted
as healthier because in lab tests the compounds neutralise free
radicals that are thought to contribute to ageing.
The findings contradict advice from the
Food Standards Agency, which maintains there is no scientific evidence
to suggest organic food is healthier.
During the four-year project, Prof
Leifert's team, which is based at the university's Tesco centre for
organic agriculture, reared cattle and grew fruit and vegetables on
adjacent organic and non-organic sites across Europe, including a
725-acre farm attached to the university. The full results of the study
will be released in full over the next 12 months.
"What we're really interested in is
finding out why there is so much variability ... What in the
agricultural system gives a higher nutritional content and less of the
baddies in the food?" Prof Leifert said.
PULLING WOOL OVER THEIR EYES
From The Hexham Courant, Hexham, Northumberland. Published on 24/08/2007
By REBECCA DIXON
rebecca.dixon@hexham-courant.co.uk
DESPITE dreary conditions and the current ban on livestock movement,
people turned out in force to show their support for Falstone Show.
The comedy sheepdog trials were a big hit and the imagination that had
gone into creating replica sheep was marvellous to see.
Everyone had interpreted the competition in a different way and there
were sheep made from balloons, polystyrene, chicken wire and woolly
jumpers.
Helen Brown, whose uncle came up with the idea, said: “Everyone
only had a week to get these made and they are brilliant.”
The bark of dogs was the only animal sound this year and although fewer
in number than usual, a fine selection was turned out by their proud
owners.
The puppies were an adorable sight, especially one tiny sheepdog being
walked by its toddler mistress.
The hounds were probably the largest category and their majestic
strides were watched with admiration by the onlookers.
The overall sheepdog champion was Ben, born and bred on the farm by
Isobel Wallace from Bridgeford at Bellingham. She said:
“I’ve been coming here since 1989 and last year I won with
a sheepdog bitch.”
Isobel also had great success in the industrial tent with her prize cakes and jams.
Those wishing to shelter from the rain during the day had the delights
of the catering tent with its inviting smell of sizzling meat provided
by Kielder Organic Meats. The pure beef burgers were selling fast,
although Michelle Anderson, who was running the stall, said: “It
is quieter than last year but we expected that.”
Despite it not being the warmest day of the year, the ice cream van did
a good trade – after it eventually managed to get across the
field with the help of a tractor.
The beer tent also proved a popular hideaway, especially for older
teens who had ventured out for the show. Some of them sported vibrant
furry top hats, won on the hook-a-pikachu stand.
For the really young there was the usual selection of sports day races
including sprints and egg and spoon races.
It was heartwarming to see how many families came along to cheer the
children, who eagerly raced for the sweetie box almost as quickly as
they had raced to cross the line!
The triumph of one little girl, six year old Sally Dagg, from Hott
Farm, was not limited to the sports field, as she also came first in
the under six handwriting competition.
The children’s efforts on the day must be applauded, with a super
selection of paintings, photographs and baked goods on display in the
industrial tent.
There were some ingenious vegetable dogs in the children’s
section and an array of beautiful floral arrangements from the adult
entries.
A fine selection of walking sticks was on display and the stand holders
said: “We had 68 sticks last year and 93 this year. The
competition is tremendous and the sticks are of real quality.”
Mr D. Simpson, of Jedburgh, swept the board winning seven first prizes
and the Stick Dressers’ Cup.
For those desperate to spend their money the craft tent offered a range
of beautiful hand-made goods. And the tasting stand of spirits and
liqueurs proved popular.
Later in the afternoon, the fell racers began crossing the line.
Several competitors had come to the show specially for the race and not
even thigh-high nettles could put them off.
First place went to Will Horsley after Martin Frost, who crossed the
finish line first, had unknowingly mis-run the route.
Will (28), who runs with the Northumberland Fell Runners, said:
“I came up here specially for the race because I like to support
the local fell races, and a few of our club members have shown up
today.”
Although many expected the show to be a bit of damp squib this year, it
managed to go off well and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy
themselves.
Top gun Emma on target
From The Hexham Courant, Hexham, Northumberland. Published on 03/08/2007
IT was ladies’ day at Tarset Clay
Shooting Club on Saturday – and the ladies proved they are
certainly no slouches when it comes to shotguns.
For hot-shot Emma Robsion, from Allenheads, missed only one of the 40
clays which came her way at the Reivers of Tarset shooting ground at
the Comb, Tarset.
It’s Emma’s fourth big win in a row, making her one to keep an eye on.
Runner-up in the competition was Lynda Saint, of Bellingham, with Cheryl Anderson third.
The junior prize went to Cassie Milligan.
Sponsors of the day included Bellingham Chemists, Bellingham Country
Store, Kielder Organic Meats, Riverdale Hall Hotel, Hugh Thompson the
butcher, and the Hollybush Inn at Greenhaugh.
From The Hexham Courant, Hexham, Northumberland. Published on 17/08/2007.
Business as usual for farm shops
Published on By WILL GREEN
DESPITE initial shortages, Tynedale’s farm shops are reporting
business as usual following the easing of the foot-and-mouth animal
transport restrictions last Thursday.
Colin and Michelle Anderson from Dunterley Farm, Bellingham, started
Kielder Organic Meats and opened a farm shop to sell their own beef,
pork and lamb in 2006.
Despite an initial flurry of panic buying, by people from as far away
as Newcastle, things have quickly returned to normal.
Mrs Anderson said: “The restrictions did have an impact on us
last week, we had near panic buying. It was the busiest week
we’ve had; it was incredible.
“People were coming from all over to buy meat, it was like there
was a war on or people were expecting a meat shortage.”
However, things have now calmed down and it is business as usual at the
shop since the lifting of the restrictions on transporting animals for
slaughter last Thursday.
“With the lifting of the restrictions last week, we managed to
get three cattle, 15 lambs and seven pigs away on Monday, so we are
open as usual,” added Mrs Anderson.
Having run North Acomb Farm Shop at Stocksfield for more than 25 years,
for Robin and Caroline Baty it is also business as usual, despite an
initial shortage of lamb after the first outbreak.
Mr Batey explained: “It is business as normal, although I think
everyone has their fingers crossed that the Government can keep the
outbreak contained down south.
“We had a delay of about three days before the restrictions were
lifted when we were running short of lamb, we weren’t out but we
did come close.
From The Hexham Courant, Hexham, Northumberland. Published on 27/07/2007.
Farm's place in TV Final
by Will Green
A NORTH Tyne farm has got through to the regional finals of the UKTV
Food Heroes competition.
Kielder Organic Meats at Dunterley Farm, Bellingham, will face four
other regional food producers and retails to win a place in the
national finals in November, where £40,000 will be up for grabs.
On Monday, celebrity chef Brian Turner was at Dunterley Farm to try out
some organic beef, prepared by Michelle Anderson, who runs Kielder
Organic Meats with her husband, Colin.
Mrs Anderson said: “On Monday we had Brian Turner here and we
gave him a topside of beef, which he really enjoyed. We’ve only
been going for 18 months and it’s incredible how much we’ve
achieved.”
The other regional finalists are Meltons Too, of York, the Feathers
Inn, at Hedley-on-the-Hill, Pepperfield Farm, Darlington, and
Farmaround, of Richmond.
From The Jounal, Newcastle. Published on 08/01/2007
Miliband angers organic farmers
Organic farmers in the North hit back
yesterday at environment minister David Miliband, after he claimed
their produce was no better than mass-produced food.
The South Shields MP and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs described organic produce as "a lifestyle choice". And he
also said that food grown with the use of pesticides and other
chemicals should not be seen as second-best.
Asked about the benefits claimed for organic food, Mr Miliband said
yesterday: "It's a lifestyle choice that people can make. There isn't
any conclusive evidence either way. It's only 4% of total farm produce,
not 40%, and I would not want to say that 96% of our farm produce is
inferior because it's not organic."
But his views have outraged some of the region's most respected producers.
Bellingham farmer Colin Anderson, who raises organic livestock, is now
challenging Mr Miliband to visit him and experience the difference for
himself.
In November he hosted a Royal Visit at Dunterley Farm, where he was
highly praised by Prince Charles for his efforts.
And speaking last night, Mr Anderson said: "We challenge David Miliband
to come to our farm - he can see what we do and actually taste what we
produce.
"Organic farming reduces exposure to chemicals used in sprays and
fertilisers, some which have been linked to asthma and even cancer. Our
animals are reared humanely, allowed to forage in natural pastures and
no chemicals, pesticides or GM are used. Customers tell us they really
can taste the difference.
"We don't want to put other farmers down - the British farmer does a
cracking job - but we are proud of what we do and what we produce. I
can't understand where the man is coming from."
Ian Sutherland, whose family has run a small organic farm at Rock
Midstead near Alnwick for the last 40 years, accused Mr Miliband of
"huge generalisation" on green produce.
He said: "It's very unfortunate that he has come out with this. He's
missing the point in a very big way. The real difference with organic
farming is the way things are produced. It's a lot more environmentally
friendly, also in terms of animal welfare and for wildlife.
"In some sectors there is also a huge improvement in the quality of produce, especially organic poultry and pork, eggs and milk.
"The minister is making a huge generalisation, which is very unfortunate."
NFU county chairman for Northumberland, Ponteland organic farmer Carron
Craighead, said: "It's not a lifestyle choice, its a health choice.
"Many people who are suffering from serious illness are advised by
their doctors to switch to organic because of the absence of residual
chemicals.
"We stand by the
quality of our produce, but organic farming is still a niche market and
there's no conflict with conventional farmers. Mr Miliband needs to
justify his comments with facts."
From Northumberland National Park News. Published on 13/11/2006
HRH The Prince of Wales Visits Northumberland National Park
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of
Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Northumberland National Park
on the 9th of November 2006 with Business in the Community. The theme
of the visit was sustainability in rural life - Their Royal Highnesses
visited a successful organic farm diversification project at Kielder
Organic Meats, met local residents to view some community arts and
history projects and discussed with farmers the future for hill farming
and the rural economy at The Hollybush Inn in Greenhaugh. Their Royal
Highnesses also met qualifying trainees from Northumberland National
Park's Traditional Boundaries, Training Skills Programme.
From The Journal, Newcastle. Published on 10/11/2006.
Royal couple get beastly surprise
Nov 10 2006
By Hayley Beattie and Robert Brooks, The Journal
Holly Bush Inn landlord Tim Morris has some sound advice on pulling a
pint for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
Prize cattle, artists and farmers from Northumberland greeted Prince
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall on their final day of their visit
to the North-East.
The Royal couple arrived at their first engagement at Dunterly Farm,
near Bellingham, by helicopter to the delight of schoolchildren who had
gathered to wave flags and banners.
They were given a personal tour of the farm, the home of Kielder
Organic Meats, by owners Colin and Michelle Anderson. Colin said:
"Prince Charles is clearly very knowledgeable about issues faced by
farmers, and he obviously cares a great deal.
"He's been very active in offering his support and bringing people together for the future."
It was then time to head to the pub where Prince Charles pulled a pint
of beer which his wife declared was "more froth than beer".
The Royal couple were visiting one of England's most remote pubs in the village of Greenhaugh, near Bellingham.
The Holly Bush Inn serves the largest parish in the country and as well
as selling a range of beers, provides a base for local community groups
and is used for computer classes.
Prince Charles pulled a pint off Nels Best Ale, and said: "It is very good."
The beer is brewed in Matfen by Steve and Sally Urwin, who started High
House Farm Brewery in 2003 when the couple decided to diversify after
foot-and-mouth hit the region.
Mrs Urwin said: "I thought Prince Charles did a great job pulling the
pint and he congratulated us on successfully diversifying."
The Prince then met with local farmers who told him of the challenges
of hill farming, while his wife chatted with local artists. Landlord of
the 17th Century drovers' inn, Tim Morris, said: "I suspect this is
something like his ideal community pub, it doesn't have piped music, it
doesn't have slot machines and there is no TV."
Their final visit of their two-day tour was to unveil a plaque to mark
the official reopening of a community building in Rothbury.
Local people raised over £500,000 to completely renovate the
Victorian Jubilee Institute, which was originally opened in 1887.
Charles and Camilla were taken on a tour of the building and met many
of the local people involved in community groups and enjoyed tea and
cakes and a quick chat with members of the RAF Association.
The Prince of Wales told guests: "I think it is a remarkable
achievement, if I may say so, that you have all managed to bring this
marvellous hall back to life.
"I do congratulate all those involved for the huge effort you have all made.
"I can see the Jubilee Institute is a very important centre of community life for the people of Rothbury and Coquetdale."
Kielder Organic Meats PRESS RELEASE: 9th November 2006. For Immediate Publication.
Charles and Camilla Meet Charles and Camilla
Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Kielder Organic
Meats today and were introduced to their namesakes – two organic
Aberdeen Angus cattle named after the Royal couple on the occasion of
their wedding in 2005.
---BEGINS---
The Royal couple were given a tour of parts of Dunterley Farm and its
Farmshop then took tea and sampled some of the farms organic meats,
which included the Princes’ favourite – organic mutton, in
the farmhouse kitchen
Colin and Michelle Anderson have been changing to be fully organic over
the last eight years. The organic process is now complete with full
Soil Association approval. Since becoming fully organic Dunterley has
been a runaway success.
This is already their second meeting with the Royal Family. Earlier in
the year they were invited with their daughter, Tracy, to a garden
party at Buckingham Palace and were specially selected to meet with
Prince Philip and Prince Edward and had a lengthy conversation with
them about the way they farm.
Dunterley’s Farm Shop is situated in the farmyard, selling the
farm’s own organic lamb, beef, pork and eggs alongside locally
grown vegetables and local produce. Works on a bakery and coffee shop
on the farm will start in 2007. Visitors will be able to see a working
farm in operation as they sip coffee and buy their produce. Colin and
Michelle are great believers in letting their customers see how all the
food is produced and always happy to let people have a trip around the
farm.
Jamie Oliver has been a huge influence on the couple who are now
organising school visits to the farm to enable urban children to see
just where healthy food comes from. A plan to send food to the urban
schools, for the pupils to cook and serve to their teachers and
parents, is underway. As Colin and Michelle say “We are happy to
invest in these kids as we see them as our future customers”.
As Colin and Michelle tend to the livestock they have observed that
they are also helping to protect wildlife habitats - now they see twice
as many song birds, curlews, lapwings and grouse sharing the pastures
with their stock. They feed the animals food grown on their own land,
peas barley and oats - all completely natural.
---ENDS---
---NOTES FOR EDITORS---
Kielder Organic Meats is owned and operated by Colin and Michelle
Anderson, their farm, Dunterley, is situated at Dunterley, Bellingham,
Northumberland, nestling in the North Tyne Valley where the livestock
grazes around the very picturesque Kielder Water and on the banks of
the Tyne. Kielder was named as one of the least polluted areas in the
country by Country Life Magazine, which assessed the impact of air,
noise and light pollution.
http://www.kielderorganicmeats.co.uk
From the Hexham Courant. Published on 03/11/2006.
Charles and Camilla to visit North Tyne
THE Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are to visit the North Tyne next week.
The Royal couple are going to Dunterley Farm at Bellingham, and then
dropping in at the Hollybush Inn at nearby Greenhaugh on Thursday.
Dunterley is the home of one of the district’s fastest growing
businesses, Kielder Organic Meats, established by Colin and Michelle
Anderson.
Prince Charles is well known for his interest in organic farming.
The Andersons met the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Edward at a royal
garden party earlier this year, and the visit was arranged after that.
Kielder Organic Meats PRESS RELEASE: 25th October 2006.
Royal Visit for Kielder Organic Meats
Buckingham Palace today confirmed that Prince Charles and the Duchess
of Cornwall are to visit Dunterly Farm, the home of Kielder Organic
Meats and the pioneering Anderson family.
The Royal couple will be given a personal guided tour of the farm by
Colin and Michelle Anderson and will then be taking tea with them in
their farmhouse kitchen.
Colin and Michelle Anderson have been changing to be fully organic over
the last eight years. The organic process is now complete with full
Soil Association approval. Since becoming fully organic Dunterly has
been a runaway success.
This is already their second meeting with the Royal Family. Earlier in
the year they were invited with their daughter, Tracy, to a garden
party at Buckingham Palace and were specially selected to meet with
Prince Philip and Prince Edward and had a lengthy conversation with
them about the way they farm.
Dunterley Success Story
Dunterly has its own Farm Shop, situated in the
farmyard, selling the farm’s own organic lamb, beef, pork and
eggs alongside locally grown vegetables and local produce. Works on a
bakery and coffee shop on the farm will start in 2007. Visitors will be
able to see a working farm in operation as they sip coffee and buy
their produce. Colin and Michelle are great believers in letting their
customers see how all the food is produced and always happy to let
people have a trip around the farm.
Jamie Oliver has been a huge influence on the couple who are now
organising school visits to the farm to enable urban children to see
just where healthy food comes from. A plan to send food to the urban
schools, for the pupils to cook and serve to their teachers and
parents, is underway. As Colin and Michelle say “We are happy to
invest in these kids as we see them as our future customers”.
As Colin and Michelle tend to the livestock they have observed that
they are also helping to protect wildlife habitats - now they see twice
as many song birds, curlews, lapwings and grouse sharing the pastures
with their stock. They feed the animals food grown on their own land,
peas barley and oats - all completely natural. ENDS.
Photographs available from Kielder Organic Meats on request. Contacts>
From NFU Online. Published on 12/06/2006
Farm Sunday is a sizzling success
With temperatures soaring this weekend,
hundreds of families made for the countryside to enjoy a range of
events organised as part of the first ever 'Farm Sunday'.
Activities on offer included everything from guided farm walks and tractor rides to farm demonstrations and barbeques.
The aim was to get as many people as
possible out of the towns and onto a farm. Fun was very much the order
of the day, but farmers were also keen to show people how food is
produced and how they manage the fabulous landscape for which the
region is famous.
In Northumberland, dozens of people
visited Colin and Michelle Andreson, who farm at Dunterley Farm,
Bellingham near Hexham. "They really enjoyed seeing our cattle, sheep
and pigs," said Michelle, "and tucked into the barbeque we organised,
complete with home produced organic beef and lamb.
"The feedback we got was that everyone enjoyed themselves and learned a bit about where their food comes from."
From Northumberland National Park. Published on 10/10/2005.
National Park Hosts Traditional Breed Hot Beef Tasting at Alwinton Show
Northumberland National Park Authority's
Drovers Project hosted a Hot Roast Beef Tasting at the Alwinton Show
this weekend, to celebrate the value of locally produced meat from
traditional breeds of cattle.
The National Park's beef fest provided
ten joints of Aberdeen Angus and Galloway meat for visitors to try.
Catering was organised by a brand new business – Kielder Organic
Meats – set up by Michelle and Colin Anderson of Dunterley Farm
near Bellingham: Colin's mum, Hilda provided the culinary expertise.
The tasting turned out to be a huge success with an equal number of the
public favouring each of the breeds.
The Drovers' Project was set up to
encourage grazing with traditional breeds of cattle on sites of nature
conservation value, as well as to research and promote the history of
cattle farming and droving in the National Park. After three grazing
seasons the project team have been able to assess the results and
provide recommendations to land managers about stocking levels and the
value of traditional breeds on upland areas. Remarkable improvements in
the quality of moorlands for wildlife have resulted from the project's
work to date. The research results are soon to be published as a report.
A history of Droving in Northumberland
National Park is also being published as a result of the project, and
will be made available free of charge to libraries and local history
groups throughout the County.
From NFU Online. Published on 12/06/2006
Farm Sunday is a sizzling success
With temperatures soaring this weekend,
hundreds of families made for the countryside to enjoy a range of
events organised as part of the first ever 'Farm Sunday'.
Activities on offer included everything from guided farm walks and tractor rides to farm demonstrations and barbeques.
The aim was to get as many people as
possible out of the towns and onto a farm. Fun was very much the order
of the day, but farmers were also keen to show people how food is
produced and how they manage the fabulous landscape for which the
region is famous.
In Northumberland, dozens of people
visited Colin and Michelle Andreson, who farm at Dunterley Farm,
Bellingham near Hexham. "They really enjoyed seeing our cattle, sheep
and pigs," said Michelle, "and tucked into the barbeque we organised,
complete with home produced organic beef and lamb.
"The feedback we got was that everyone enjoyed themselves and learned a bit about where their food comes from."
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