Field Day

One of the countryside's best known charities, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, is planning its biggest ever fundraising and awareness event - Welly Week.

The event will run from October 11-18 and will see farming families, schools, workplaces, students and Young Farmers take part in activities in a bid to raise cash for the charity.

Welly wanging competitions, welly barn dances, welly golf and welly walks are just four of the hundreds of activities taking place around the nation.

"We're encouraging people to plan their own events and get others in your community involved," so RABI's Fay Dewey tells me.

"Of course, you can always just wear wellies during that week in a bid to raise the profile of all the good work that RABI does in rural communities."

Funds raised will be used for the purchase of special items to give a better quality of life to those in need. Fay says the charity currently gives around £200,000 a year to purchase such equipment such as stairlifts, riser/recliner chairs and electrically powered vehicles, as well as home adaptations to assist people with disabilities.

While much of this is for elderly and retired members of the farming community, RABI also provides equipment to help people of all ages who need support as a result of accidents or illness.

Sounds like a great initiative. I'll have to dust my wellies down...