Big walk steps up for farming charity’s work
A walk to support the work of farming charity Farming Community Network ( FCN) and mark its 25th anniversary is taking place on the North York Moors this Saturday.
To tie in with World Mental Health Day, the Yorkshire branch of the charity is holding its FCN Big 25 walk, which is open to everyone, around Gormire Lake and the White Horse at Sutton Bank.
FCN’s Yorkshire coordinator, Lisa Cardy said it had been a tough year for rural communities.
“Covid- 19 has meant we haven’t been able to visit farms or the marts and have missed that contact with the community,” she said.
“It has also meant, like many other organisations, we have had to change our plans to celebrate our 25th anniversary.”
Mrs Cardy said it was important to mark the work done by the charity over the past 25 years and the network of volunteers who make it possible.
“We have more then 30 volunteers in Yorkshire and have supported many farming families over the past 25 years,” she said.
The walk will take place under Covid guidelines and set off from the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre car park at 11am.
Walkers will include the Yorkshire Vet, Julian Norton and the Bishop of Ripon, Dr Helen- Ann Hartley, a trustee of the charity.
“FCN has a strong mandate of ‘ walking with the farming community’ through times of joy and sorrow,” Dr Hartley said.
“I am delighted to be able to join this local walk, carefully arranged in these challenging times, showing my continued support as a trustee of FCN for its work, and my continued advocacy for critical issues facing those who work in agriculture”.
Yorkshire trustee, Sally Steadman, said: “The work FCN does is so important and this is a way to show support and raise awareness for the invaluable service the charity provides.”