March 2010 Archives

New research shows how effective introducing Jamie Oliver-style menus into schools has been.

Ditching high-fat and sugary food in favour of more healthy options improves pupils' test results and cuts the number of days they're off sick, according to researchers from Oxford and Essex universities.

The impact of replacing burgers, fish fingers and chips with such dishes as pasta, Mexican bean wraps and creamy coconut fish was as effective at raising standards as the introduction of the multi-billion pound literacy hour in the 1990s.

Great news all round then? Well, not quite. It came at the same time as another top TV chef, Marco Pierre White, announced he is to become a brand ambassador for Bernard Matthews.

White, who was the youngest chef to win three Michelin stars at the age of 33, reckons the turkey producer is "without question one of the great farmers of the last five decades" and wants to move the bird "further up the UK's culinary agenda".

Nothing wrong with that, you might think. The only complication is that many remember it was the Norfolk-based company run by Bernard 'Bootiful' Matthews who once made the now-infamous Turkey Twizzlers. And they were the very product held up by Jamie Oliver as epitomising all that was wrong with our school dinners.

Don't you just love TV ads.

Let's face it, they're better than a lot of the programmes - and the new T-mobile advert certainly made me smile.

It features Benjamin Browning, who is shown exercising his right (and presumably this is something he doesn't do very often) as a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Poulters to drive geese through the City.

"T-Mobile's agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, approached the Corporation of London for permission to film in the City, and for a Freeman to drive geese through the streets," says Benjamin. "The clerk to the Poulters knows that I am game for that sort of thing.

"I have had geese in the past, and driven them to get them from one place to another, rather than for a camera.

"The geese behaved very well for the two days of shooting - we kept an eye on them to ensure any that looked as though they were tiring were taken off the set and rested for the day."

Watch the advert on YouTube.

I tried not to get hooked and failed.

My one TV obsession at the moment is MasterChef. As someone who loves food - but is a rubbish chef - it's fascinating to watch.

Presenters John and Gregg have been in India for the episode that'll be aired on Monday April 5, with contestants cooking for a local dignitary in the city of Jodhpur.

If you know a fan of the show who's got a birthday coming up, they might like this book. And if you're feeling inspired to take to the kitchen, here are recipes from some of the previous series.

It seems a beautiful dress isn't enough to get you noticed if you're a celebrity these days. You need something unusual and altogether more striking - like, eeeer, a pig.

This was the accessory of choice for Emma Thompson at the world premiere of her new film, Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang, last night.

The sequel to the 2005 hit Nanny McPhee sees Thompson play a magical nanny who helps a mother struggling to run a farm and look after her kids while her husband is away during the Second World War.

The porker tried to lead the actress off in all directions as she arrived at the Odeon West End in Leicester Square in London. She kept on smiling before handing the animal over to its handler so she could join her human co-stars inside.

It refused to pose for the cameras and, apparently, became so startled by the flashbulbs and screams of fans that it relieved itself. Charming.

I love it when people surprise you. And this woman can certainly do that.

By day, Sophia Lolley is the manager of a 220 acre organic farm in Devon, with Dorset Horn sheep and Devon cattle. 

Here's more video footage of the British army's only vet in Afghanistan, Captain Miles Malone.

He's been running clinics for local farmers in Helmand Province - latterly, working out of Patrol Base Shaheed after Operation Moshtarak, the largest helicopter assault since the war began in 2001, pushed the Taliban out of Nad Ali District.

Here are two things you don't see together very often: a ball dress and wellies.

Field Day regulars will recognise this as Anna Simpson, one of the two winners of FW's recent Britain's Sexiest Farmer competition.

Life's been a media whirlwind for the 25-year-old since she took the title. As well as numerous TV appearances, she's been in The Sun, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, The Daily Telegraph and The Northern Echo.

"I've had my picture taken so many times, I feel like a professional model," says Anna.

"It's been great fun - even though my mouth started to ache from smiling so much at the end."

Of all the pictures taken of her, this is her favourite.

She wasn't quite so sure about this shot of her in a bikini on the farm that appeared in The Sun (although I'm afraid I like some of the puns - such as 'Hay Good Looking'). They changed the background colours on the picture to make it look warmer because it was a freezing day, explains Anna. "I wasn't smiling in the bikini one, I was shivering!"

Field Day readers who can overlook the many shortcomings of squirrels might be interested in Axel Scheffler's new book, How to Keep a Pet Squirrel.

Quite why anyone would want to keep one is beyond me, but Alex - best known as the illustrator of The Gruffalo - was inspired to produce this book after reading tips on procuring and caring for a pet squirrel in The Children's Encyclopaedia of 1910.

This slim (it's 48 pages) hardback features his illustrations alongside the text. Publishers Faber & Faber describe it as "a charming and beguiling curiosity, packed full of wise advice".

In fact, I've just been flicking through Faber's catalogue of new books and, between some fascinating ones such as Lights Out in Wonderland by DBC Pierre and Human Chain by Seamus Heaney, I came across one with a rather less appealing title. The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman.

It's easy to forget that Jimmy Doherty was an insect buff before becoming a celebrity pig farmer (and there's not too many of them around).

Fans of the screen-friendly Essex boy will be interested to know he's on TV tonight at 8pm fronting the first of a new series, Museum of Life, which goes behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum.

OK, I lied. I said that today would be a day of serious news but, frankly, I hadn't anticipated this. A swimming Persian.

Today is obviously a day of bizarre stories involving animals.

I've been sent three links. The first, a heartwarming story of a dog reunited with its young owner after five years (all together now: Aaaarrrhhh).

The second, a dog washing machine in Japan.

The third, a video of a man teaching an alpaca to surf in Peru. At least, it says he's been teaching it to surf - but it looks more like he's merely manhandled the poor creature onto the board, whereafter it's sat motionless and prostrate with fear until it gets the first available opportunity to leap off.

Tomorrow I'll be covering solely serious and sensible issues. Promise.

I'm excited because a new book brings together two of my favourite things - writers and Somerset.

Literary Somerset by James Crowden is billed as an "intellectual road map of the county from Anglo-Saxon times to the present day" and features more than 350 authors associated with the area.

As well as its more famous residents - such as Wordsworth and Coleridge  - it features lesser-known ones including John Steinbeck who once lived near Bruton, and JRR Tolkein who honeymooned in Clevedon (Cheddar Gorge was the inspiration for Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings).

I heard about it because the author, James, was a guest on Radio 4's Excess Baggage with the huggably lovely Sandi Toksvig at the weekend.

He tells me he met Sandi at a book festival a while back - when he found himself sat between her and ex-political reporter and Strictly Come Dancing-favourite John Sergeant. "We didn't know about his dancing at that stage," says James.

This 272-pager, which retails at £18.95, includes everyone from philosophers, pirates and playwrights to eccentric clergymen, herbalists and historians.

As to what drew so many creative people to the county, James reckons it's its proximity to Bath and Bristol. "That and the cheap housing and cheap cider!"

Those of you who enjoyed reading about army captain Miles Malone - aka the 'Herriot of Helmand' - who's been doing some fascinating work in Afghanistan will be interested to know there's a short film about him on the Country Channel.

It's easy to have missed this year's Crufts, since the BBC axed its coverage of the show because of the inbreeding controversy (among the dogs, not the exhibitors).

You can see lots of photos from the event, which kicked off yesterday and runs until Sunday, on the Guardian and the Telegraph websites. You can also read about some of the continuing concerns about breeding in The Independent.

It's a shame it isn't on TV anymore. Still think it was one of my favourite TV moments - bumbling Ben Fogle trying to maintain a straight face while a dozen golden retrievers indulged in what can only be described as 'orgiastic' behaviour behind him.

Squirrels. I knew they spent all their time either causing chaos at Alton Towers, getting drunk, dressing up in army gear or gorging themselves senseless - but I now see they're masquerading as astronauts. 

This fantastic picture in The Sun was taken in a back garden in Fareham, Hants. Householder Jane Roberts suspends coconuts on pieces of string from her washing line and watches her furry friends dig in.

Whatever next - an outpouring of public grief over a dead albino one?

Getting married and want £12k?

Well, there's only one condition - you'll need to feature in the new series of the BBC3 show, Don't Tell the Bride.

According to Renegade Pictures, who are casting for the couples, the programme has featured all sorts of weddings but never a farmer, so they're on the hunt for one.

The premise is simple: the groom gets given the £12,000 and three weeks to arrange the big day. He has to organise every detail - from the venue and the cake to the dress and the ring. And he's not allowed to see his bride-to-be until the day itself, so she has a terrifying wait to find out how he did.

"We would love to find a couple who wants to get married on a farm or perhaps arrive at the church on a tractor, says Renegade's Emma Parsons. "We want to find a wedding full of wellies."

It sounds like great TV. Personally, though, I think I'd rather watch it, than star in it. Especially when this sort of thing happens - it's a clip on YouTube from the show called Dress Mess.

If you fancy it, email Renegade Pictures.

Remember Richard Byrne, the agricultural lecturer who blogged for Field Day while he was serving in Afghanistan as a navy reservist?

Well, author Peter Darman read his words and is featuring Richard (left) in his new book, Blood, Sweat and Steel.

Due out this summer, it compiles first-hand accounts from military personnel from around the world, who served in the first Gulf War, the Iraq conflict and Afghanistan.

Despite evidence to the contrary last week, chickens obviously aren't all murderous. They have a cute and endearing side, too.

Take Mabel. This hen has adopted a litter of puppies and keeps the pups warm by roosting on them.

Having mentioned the killer chickens on Wednesday, I now see Matthew Naylor has LAID down a challenge for me regarding puns.

I'd obviously never descend to such juvenile levels when covering a story - especially one that involved murder most FOWL.

I also fear that in a bid to out-do him, I could end up in a FLAP and make a COCK-up of this EGG-xtraordinary tale of FEATHERS flying as a BIRD-BRAINED attacker got OUT-FOXED.

My take on the whole incident is quite simple. I positively gobbled up the news of these birds which obviously weren't CHICKEN and showed real GRIT in pulling off this COUP, even if they were merely FEATHERING their own NEST.

My only worry is that, having knocked the STUFFING out of this HEN-PECKED fox, they could find themselves UP BEFORE THE BEAK and getting their WINGS CLIPPED.

Can you think of any more puns, or have we totally exhausted this one? If you can, let me know - and the sender of the one I like best will receive a copy of the gloriously titled book, Know Your Chickens. Now the winner of that really would have something to CROW about. Either leave a comment or email me.

I don't want you to get the wrong idea by talking too much about animal's reproductive habits. I mean, this isn't that sort of blog, after all.

But following on from yesterday's frisky kingfishers, I can't resist sharing this story about an underperforming bull which has been saved from the slaughterhouse thanks to herbal 'Viagra'.

I'm not one to name drop, but I've been talking to Max Clifford.

I haven't done something scintillating, shocking or salacious (sadly), but he's helping me  judge a competition.

The agent-to-the-stars will be giving Farmers Weekly the benefit of his huge public relations experience to help pick a "face" to front the British Food Fortnight 2010 campaign.

So, do you have a face that sums up all that's best about this country's delicious food and wonderful farming industry? A face that conveys the characteristics of which we can be proud - wholesomeness, hard work, integrity, a sense of tradition, healthiness and a bright future.

There are some great animal pictures in the media today - cute polar bears in The Telegraph, killer chickens in The Mail and amorous kingfishers in The Times.

This is the newly unveiled poster for the film Bovine, which I was on location with last autumn.

Director Will McGregor and his team are now putting the final touches to the short movie, before launching it onto the festival circuit.

Bovine was even invited to feature at the Berlin Talent Campus (part of the city's film festival) earlier this month, which gave Will the chance to work with a top editor on the final edit.

Farmer's son Will, who wants to tell "original and compelling stories" hopes the film will stand as a work of art, plus raise awareness of the problem of TB in the countryside.

You can read the full article I wrote after spending a day with the Bovine team below.

It could end up being a sheep and a meerkat.

No, this isn't some weird recipe dreamed up by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall (aka Hugh Fearlessly Eats It All) - it's two of the finalists at next month's British Animation Awards.

Shaun the Sheep and the smoking jacket-wearing critter off the comparethemarket.com ads have both been shortlisted.

Field Day favourite Shaun is in the running (or should that be the grazing) in the children's choice award, while the maker of aristocratic meerkat Aleksandr could net the best commercial director award at the event held at the British Film Institute.

Fans of Shaun can see more pictures here and here.