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NEWS RELEASE December 2, 2004 |
High quality South Downs lamb could be on sale in Sussex butchers' shops, hotels and restaurants by next summer. South Downs Lamb is one of an innovative range of branded products being developed under the South Downs Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI) - a cutting edge conservation project. One of its aims is to boost the purchase of local products which in turn will help sustain the South Downs habitat.
Sussex Downs Conservation Board (SDCB) is working with a number of Sussex estates to market South Downs lamb.
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South Downs lambs Photographer: Peter Greenhalf © Countryside Agency |
A feasibility study was carried out this spring and summer - a collaboration between DEFRA, SDCB and Sussex farmers. Results showed that a new South Downs Lamb business was commercially viable and could achieve profitability within three years.
Currently just over 2,000 lambs are committed to the scheme with a total 4,000 required. Says Martin Beaton, SDCB's Sussex Downs Officer: " We are making efforts to find farmers willing to try Hampshire Down or Southdown tups and bring on board producers already working these rams."
By year three, it is envisaged some 11,000 lambs could be going through the system and there is already keen interest from local retailers and restaurants. The scheme has been developed with support from the England Rural Development Programme.
Says Martin Beaton: "All observations from the market testing, which is still underway, indicate South Downs lamb is a first-class product. The Board and estates that originally invested in the viability exercise believe the development of a South Downs Lamb company is the way forward.
"We have been working closely with the England Food and Farming Partnership and together we are proposing a company structure which gives Sussex estates the opportunity to come in as co-investors."
With the Government preparing to make the most radical changes seen in the countryside for generations and the EU moving away from paying farmers subsidies linked to production, new products like South Downs lamb have great importance as part of the LEI.
The LEI was developed in response to large-scale landscape degradation and loss over the last 40 years -often as a result of farming policy.
Says SDCB's Landscape Enhancement Initiative Officer, Neil Hill: "Whilst the Board recognises the importance of agri-environmental support schemes for farmers, we realise these need to be set alongside a more market-based approach, where farmers can take control of their produce and add real value to it.
"For this to have long-term success we have to find ways of creating a sustainable rural economy - such as high quality products that will be sold locally.
"The LEI is promoting a vision for the future of the South Downs which enhances the environment and rural economy whilst providing for people's quiet enjoyment of this special area."
For further information contact Neil Hill on (01243) 558700 or email nhill@southdowns-aonb.gov.uk
Notes:
The South Downs Virtual Information Centre can be found at www.vic.org.uk
The Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of 41 protected landscapes in England and Wales. It covers nearly 400 square miles (1,000 square km) and 1,364 miles (2,200 km) of rights of way, stretching from the Hampshire border to Eastbourne.
The Sussex Downs Conservation Board (SDCB) aims to protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Sussex Downs AONB. The Chairman of the SDCB is Lord Renton; the Sussex Downs Officer Martin Beaton is the Chief Officer, with Countryside Manager Phil Belden his deputy.
| From South East Farmer, January 2005 |
High quality South Downs lamb could be on sale in Sussex butchers' shops, hotels and restaurants by next summer.
South Downs Lamb is one of an innovative range of branded products being developed under the South Downs Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI) conservation project. One of its aims is to boost the purchase of local products which in turn will help sustain the South Downs habitat.
Sussex Downs Conservation Board (SDCB) is working with a number of Sussex estates to market South Downs lamb.
A feasibility study was carried out this spring and summer - a collaboration between DEFRA, SDCB and Sussex farmers. Results showed that a new South Downs Lamb business was commercially viable and could achieve profitability within three years.
Currently just over 2,000 lambs are committed to the scheme with a total 4,000 required. Martin Beaton, SDCB's Sussex Downs Officer said: "We are making efforts to find farmers willing to try Hampshire Down or Southdown tups and bring on board producers already working these rams."
By year three, it is envisaged some 11,000 lambs could be going through the system and there is already keen interest from local retailers and restaurants. The scheme has been developed with support from the England rural development programme.
"All observations from the market testing, which is still underway, indicate South Downs lamb is a first-class product", Mr. Beaton added. "The board and estates which originally invested in the study believe the development of a South Downs Lamb company is the way forward."
| With the end of the public enquiry into the proposed South Downs national park, JOHN HARVEY looks at a new scheme to produce and market lamb from the area. |
John Olphert was planning to have some lambs ready for the South Downs Lamb scheme after Christmas.
"I am very keen on having local produce going to local markets," said Mr. Olphert, who is a tenant on 700 acres of extensive grazing land at Harting on the Hampshire and West Sussex border.
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About 250 acres of Mr. Olphert's land is in an environmentally sensitive area. He uses about 50 tonnes of fertiliser a year, most of which goes on haylage for horses.
He runs about 2,000 breeding ewes and some of the lambs are sold directly to customers, others go through farmers markets and the remainder to retail outlets. There is a share farming partnership in an organic flock which goes via Rother Valley Organic and direct selling.
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One of the estates backing the scheme financially is Goodwood, set in 12,000 acres of West Sussex downland. Karl Barton, the farm manager at Goodwood, said he thought the initiative was brilliant. "Local people want local produce and the South Downs lamb is very tasty."
Mr. Barton estimated that Goodwood had between 400 and 500 acres within the boundary of what could become the new national park.
"This scheme has the right drive to improve flora and fauna on the downs and take the fertiliser off them. It will also do a lot of good for the downs community."
So far, farmers have sold their lambs through South Downs Lamb for an average of at least £5 more than they would have achieved through commodity markets.
"We are using a couple of abattoirs which have very good traceability," said Neil Hill, who runs the South Downs Landscape Enhancement Initiative which is developing the lamb scheme.
Two companies have been set up to operate South Downs Lamb. One is a holding company which will be supplied by a farmer controlled business called the South Downs Lamb Trading Company. There are a number of investors in this, including the National Trust and the Sussex Downs Conservation Board (SDCB) which has taken a 20% stake. Six estates are interested in investing next year.
The company will be a co-operative run and owned by farmers who will emply a manager independent of the SDCB or the estates.
Six farmers have already said they will join the scheme. Figures from the Meat and Livestock Commission show there are about 400 butchers within the proposed boundaries of the national park. If the company meets its year three target of 11,000 lambs, it would still only be supplying 25% of these butchers.
By kind permission of South East Farmer