Political issues could drain colour from rural landscape

Ididn’ t see the recent strong sheep trade coming. It feels like, damn it all, we’re all going to need to eat, whatever the uncertainties on exports post-Brexit, or trade deals with the US which could open the flood gates to imported food with lower standards.

It’ s all going fine, the political elite tell us.

Our food labelling will be clear and we’ ll know exactly what we’re buying – just as crystal clear as it was with the horse meat debacle.

I’ ve met many young talented faces around the socially-distanced sheep pens and marts I’ve attended this autumn. Maybe the corona virus restrictions which allow just one buyer per business to attend has concentrated minds for the future.

Armed with mobile phones and loaded with breeding information, I faced hard questioning on my flock’ s performance– and it made a refreshing change.

All four nations have been represented, from the hills of the west, down to fer tile arable lands in the east. It seems grazing livestock are at last being recognised for playing a critical role in soil health, biodiversity, habitat creation and vital food production.

The Lairgt up pens are where I met Max.

Young, tall, with a mop of blond hair and wearing shorts in October – he was definitely not a local – he had travelled all the way up from South Wales and was needing North Country Cheviot Hill t ups to put across his Romney ewes to breed their farm’ s replacements.

He did his bidding and went home with two tups, disappointed that he couldn’ t stay for the ewes sale the next day – but he had to ge t back to sit his driving test.

Max left a lasting impression. His energy, drive and enthusiasm, as with the many other young women and men I’ ve met recently, is what our industry needs to move ahead.

Meanwhile I’ m braced for more political showboating over the next few months as trade talks continue to grab the headlines. Like others, I’m trying to workout what these changes mean to our futures.

What does it matter to the politicians if there’s a few fewer crofters or farmers around?

I suspect we’re just seen as a very insignificant loss to the Dominic Cummings of the world.

Armadale is a crofting township of around 30 houses and our hall committee is currently project-managing the final stages of a new village hall rebuild costing £450,000, including legal expenses and land acquisition.

When complete it’ ll be a warm welcoming space for folk to come together and also provide toilets, showers and electric car charging points for visitors.

Everyone on the hall committee is a crofter. We all have other jobs, but our involvement with the land is the common thread and means we are intertwined in the social fabric of our communities.

The political uncertainty we’re currently undergoing could drain the colour from the rural landscape right across the country.

Keep lobbying your politicians, ask hard questions and keep telling the stories behind your communities. Each story is special and unique from whatever part of the country you hail.

Don’ t let our rural landscape, or the folk living there, become another shade of beige like the food that will flood in if Boris and his chums get their way.

WAY OF LIFE: Every committee member managing the £450,000 construction of the village hall at the township of Armadale is a local crofter.