Country View news in brief

Around 40 per cent of new companies did not have a marketing plan and 50 per cent launched their business without any form of marketing or advertising budget.

Study grant
NFU Cymru’s Mid-Gwynedd county branch is offering £3,000 to a farmer in North Wales wanting to travel the world to learn more about agriculture.

Last year’s winner Osian Rhys, from Hendy, near Caernarfon, is currently in Australia studying the country’s dairy industry.

Details on 01982 554200 or by email from Awel.Morris@nfu.org.uk

Mutton masterclass
Hearty Mutton Broth and spicy Mutton Chop Curry went down a storm at the first Mutton Renaissance masterclass of the season, hosted by club member and Academy of Culinary Arts member, Mark Hix at Brown’s Hotel in London.

Joining Mark was butcher David Lidgate, who discussed the virtues of mutton to an enthusiastic audience of over 50 chefs, butchers and farmers.

To join the club, or for a copy of the brochure ‘A Taste for Marketing Mutton’ contact Mags Barrow on 01684 892661 or email mags@nationalsheep.org.uk.

Pesticides ban
The Co-operative has become the first UK retailer to prohibit the use of a group of eight pesticides as part of a new awareness campaign designed to help reverse the decline of British honeybees. The group has donated £150,000 for research into the decline and UK farming practices.

Charity flavour
Herefordshire potato chip producer, Tyrrells has partnered the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens charity to launch two new flavours for independent retailers.

Ten per cent of sales from their Roast Lamb and Shrewsbury Sauce and Parsnip Chips with Rosemary will be donated to the charity, which promotes community-managed farms and gardens across the UK.