We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Farm attraction driven by determination
With the risk of a farm’s vulnerability towards an E.coli outbreak returning to the top of the news agenda, Barry Alston meets one Welsh farmer who suffered at the hands of a cruel twist of fate when his farm was found to be the source of infection many years ago.
As many families favour a break or days away in the countryside, farm-based tourism operations have a lot to offer.
Two wet years in a row have resulted in lower than average visitor numbers, but the previous lull could not have come at a worse time for one well-established North Wales venture.
At its peak, Foel Farm Park attracted around 50,000 visitors a year - until disaster struck three times in successive years.
Bevis Spears established the tourist attraction 18 years ago to boost his farming income.
Offering a fun-packed day out in a beautiful setting alongside Anglesey’s Menai Straits, near Brynsiencyn, and regarded as somewhat unique at the time, it was a popular destination for everyone from young families to the older generation.
Bevis researched the health and safety issues, public liability and, being fully aware of the possible health risks, provided all the necessary washing facilities. He displayed eye-catching notices encouraging everyone, especially youngsters, to use them.
As the range of animals grew to 17 rare breeds of sheep, five breeds of cattle, eight pig breeds, goats, poultry and even a North American bison and llamas, so did the farm’s popularity.
Among the breeds were primitives such as Soay, Hebridean, North Ronaldsway and Manx sheep, British White, Belted Galloway, White Park and Highland cattle.
Another major visitor attraction was an 80-ewe flock of Friesland milking sheep, milked daily through a purpose-designed parlour, with the milk being turned into yogurt and ice-cream.
School visits
The farm became a regular venue for school visits and Bevis welcomed the opportunity to promote farming and food production to future generations.
But out of the blue a telephone call in June 1999 sounded the alarm bells.
A number of cases of the highly toxic, and sometimes fatal, E. coli 0157 strain had been confirmed in a number of children, and Foel Farm was identified as a possible common link.
Public and environmental health officials ordered an instant shutdown while tests were carried out - eventually confirming the park as the source.
Regarded as one of Britain’s most serious outbreaks, the resulting publicity was considerable. Eventually, with the assistance of the NFU, it led to the tightening up of many guidelines in use today for farm-linked attractions. But as far as Foel Farm was concerned, the damage had been done.
When, after a thorough clean-up operation, the gates re-opened several weeks later, visitor numbers dropped from up to 800 a day at times to barely a trickle.
“We were devastated,” says Bevis. “We had done everything possible to make sure visitors were aware of the dangers of direct contact with animals, but how do you ensure everyone heeds the advice?
“To say the least, our world had fallen apart, though the plan was to carry on and re-build.”
Ironically, it was only the start of yet more set-backs. In June the following year his wife, Ann, fell downstairs and was irreversibly paralysed from the neck down.
The accident meant months of travelling back and forwards during her lengthy stay in hospital and a complete lifestyle change when she returned home - all while trying to re-establish the farm park.
By then visitor numbers were less than 20,000 a year, but were slowly starting to recover.
However, spring 2001 heralded the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the subsequent wholesale slaughter of livestock on Anglesey.
Contiguous culling of the farm’s sheep flock and yet another shutdown dealt a further devastating knock-back.
Since then, and despite the death of his wife in 2005, Bevis has invested further to re-establishing the venture.
Diversification
The milking sheep have gone and in their place now stands a licensed restaurant and tea rooms, complete with garden terrace, serving home-cooked meals.
Next door, and open all year round, is another new diversification initiative - Anglesey Farmhouse Chocolate.
Manufacturing ‘all things chocolate’ on the premises, it offers a hand-made range from delicacies to moulded animals.
As for the farm, the 45 hectare (112 acre) holding now supports conventional livestock enterprises of up to 200 Half-bred ewes, as well as mainly Simmental and Limousin cross suckler cattle.
For added visitor interest there are also pigs, hens, ducks, goats, ponies, Shire horses, rabbits and one old donkey.
The whole family can take a tractor and trailer tour, enjoy a quad bike trailer ride or take to the saddle for pony rides.
When asked whether he thought of giving up on his tourism enterprise, Bevis admits it was a tough call, but his determination to pursue what he knew was a good opportunity was the push he needed.
“Yes, there have been times when I seriously thought of giving up,” says Bevis. “But a farm of this size would certainly not be viable without the park.
“Fortunately we are now back on track again and despite the last two extremely wet years, we are ever hopeful 2009 will be a bumper one.
“But, as my experience vividly demonstrates, anyone contemplating diversifying into farm tourism needs to take a very hard look at the possible pitfalls before making such an investment.”
