Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Taking time out to enjoy life in the slow lane
Farmers are not exempt from lockdown anxiety and stress, says Wiltshire dairy farmer Ro Collingborn
MANY farmers can easily be deluded into believing that their lives have only been marginally affected by Covid-19. While this could be true for some, for many it has, even without them realising it, added a tremendous extra pressure to their lives.
Although farmers work every day in a job they enjoy in an environment and countryside they love (although they would be loath to admit it), for many the long lockdown will have changed their way of life without them realising it. No longer does the nutritionist, agronomist or salesman call and enjoy a cup of tea and a chat over the kitchen table, discussing the state of farming and local gossip.
Any visitors have been quickly in and out, embarrassingly distant. There has been no chance of booking the annual holiday or even a weekend away, no visits to the pub or trips to the local markets, to meet old friends. Even telephone calls to friends are quickly ended with “Well there’s nothing to talk about”.
All this has subconsciously put extra pressure on the captain of the ship who must show no fear or the crew will panic. Very often in farming there is a huge financial burden to bear involving large borrowings in an industry which receives public funding. So in conversation with outsiders, the farmer finds him convincing them that life is so hard, he really needs this funding and can easily end up convincing himself that his life is far harder than it actually is.
It was so forward-thinking of Derek Mead to install a health centre at Sedgemoor Market, where farmers can slip in and discuss their physical health problems and hopefully feel able if necessary, to discuss any anxieties. It’s very important that any farmer under pressure should seek help. There’s no shame in asking.
At long last things are opening up, and with them little rays of light. We are not quite so unsure of approaching our neighbours, though social distancing has taken its toll. It takes time to learn to be sociable again, to move away from the security of our bubble. At times, Covid gave an element of relaxation, an excuse to take a walk with one’s friend without having to look at the cattle. Previously any walks would always involve checking the cattle, unless the cattle were inside for the winter, and then it was checking the state of the fencing.
I find it’s difficult to be sociable again. Do I really want to go out in the evening, now I’m so used to an early night? Do I want to pay for a drink in the pub when there’s plenty to drink at home? We have to learn how to live again, even if it’s just to remember how to hug our friends and grandchildren. I just hope us oldies can remember our friends’ names, as well as who they are!
The best thing of all in this holiday was in slowing my husband down. Before we set out, he had been motoring round the farm at full speed, like a tightly coiled spring, zooming from one project to another, as he had no distractions to slow him down
With things opening up, for selfcatering at least, my husband Joe and I were fortunate enough to get the opportunity for a few days away on a canal barge in the Midlands – a well-deserved and much-needed break, although at our time of life we did find the locks quite hard. We did ask a farming friend to join us to help, but he resolutely refused. When I asked why he said: “I’m afraid of water.” Even though I pointed out that the canals were so shallow his only danger if he fell overboard was getting stuck in the mud, he still refused to come, so we preserved the Covid regulations at least.
As we cruised quietly through the countryside towards Stratford-onAvon, Joe was constantly assessing the state of the various crops. “Oh look, that crop’s wintered well” and “Oh look, that’s been sprayed off. Do you think it was cover crop or autumn-planted failure?”. We were amazed at the friendliness and smiles we received from tow path walkers and people sitting in their gardens enjoying the sunshine; also the tameness of the birdlife – we could cruise within inches of nesting swans. Canal banks tend to be tree lined, and we saw plenty of fully grown ash trees, with branches hanging over the water. Ash die back is going to be a tremendous problem for the canal trust.
We learnt a lot about the history of the canals and canal architecture though Joe was very upset by the graffiti on the bridges. My attempts at steering were not always successful. Once, when facing the wrong way and everyone was shouting “go forward”, I went faster and faster backwards, causing an embarrassing
three-boat pile-up. Many pubs along the way were still shut, but we were delighted to discover that The Navigation served the best Guinness outside Ireland.
We observed two brand new marinas which not only provide mooring for boats, but work and a social centre for the local community. What a good diversification project for the fortunate farmers owning the land canal side. We discussed how it was sad that the restoration of the Wilts and Berks canal was not further ahead, so that it could provide a facility for the community of North Wiltshire and a useful income for many farmers. The only anxiousness was to find a winding hole to turn around, so called because in the days of horse drawn they would use the power of the wind to help turn the barge round.
The best thing of all in this holiday was in slowing my husband down. Before we set out, he had been motoring round the farm at full speed, like a tightly coiled spring, zooming from one project to another, as he had no distractions to slow him down. Taken to a completely different scene, he was able to look around and escape from the many daily worries that beset him. Now we’re back, I hope he stays slowed down, and lets others take the strain.