Recently in rural services Category

And while we're on the subject of rural services - here's a story in The Daily Mirror about a school with more teachers than pupils.

To be or not to be?

That is obviously the question when it comes to revealing your identity if you're a farming and entering the world of online dating.

New research from mysinglefriend.com reveals that more and more women want to date a farmer.

A fire has swept through 1500 acres on Exmoor. Here's what the BBC had to say, plus there are some comments from someone who's been affected on the FWi forums.

Retired farmer Alec Garrard has spent 30 years creating a scale model of a biblical temple.

Apparently he's hand-baked and painted every clay brick and tile of his replica of Herod's temple, along with sculpting 4000 tiny human figures to populate the courtyards.

The question that springs to my mind is: Why?

Another day, another do.

Not that I get to go to many of these, you understand. I'd hate you to get the wrong idea. But tonight I'll be donning a black tie and heading into London for the glittering Farmers Weekly Awards 2008 at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

I was lucky enough to be one of the judges in this prestigious competition, and tonight is the big night for all our lucky winners. It'll also be a chance to eat some nice food, drink some nice wine and stutt my stuff on the dance floor (not a pretty sight, I have to say).

As per last year (when I feared myself and co-presenter Hugh Broom would come across like The Krankies) I'll also be on filming duty. I'll share the video with you when it's ready.

For now, though, here's one of the highlights from last year: the interview we did with impressionist Jon Culshaw. 

Speaking of posties, I once spent a day with one who had one of the most rural rounds in Britain. Here's the article I wrote for Farmers Weekly, if you're interested:

Two pubs, a quarry, a youth hostel, an outdoor centre, a tiny village school and, of course, lots of hill farms all get their deliveries from Co Durham postman Norman Dunbar.

"It's nothing like being a town postie - it's a different job altogether," says Norman, whose working day starts at 5am.

Norman's round starts in Barnard Castle but soon takes him out into the Teesdale countryside. He covers about 65 miles on a typical day, with the remotest farm on his patch about five miles from its nearest neighbour. "In winter, you can't hear a single thing up here," he says.

It's a glorious July day when Farmers Weekly visits - one of the best, Norman says, in what's been a dreadful season. The sun's out, the farmers are itching to get haymaking and Norman has a quick word with some as he delivers their mail.

What's happening on the farm is a key topic of conversation and Norman - a self-confessed townie - has got to know a lot about agriculture since starting this round about 12 years ago. On one occasion, a woman even asked him to help deliver a calf.

Winters, however, can be tough on this remote and high ground. "I've always got a shovel in the back of the van.

"That's about the only downside of the job - it's often dark and windy and cold. When you get right up on top," he laughs. "If the wind drops, the people fall over."

I like country post offices and I like dogs and I like beer. So this story works on a number of levels for me!

I know I had a moan at The Independent over that rural accents business - but at least they're covering the issue of rural services.

Sounds like the government's plans to close 2500 rural post offices was almost kicked into touch by Parliament yesterday. Sadly, though, not quite...

I completely missed this (shamefully, I haven't been in a 'proper' butcher's shop for weeks) but it sounds like National Butchers Week was a great initiative.

Hopefully events like this will help halt the closure of High Street butchers which are disappearing at an alarming rate.

HRH opened his shop yesterday. Looks as if it sells some great stuff. Probably not the place to go for a four-pack of lager and 40 B&H.

We're supposed to be a nation of shopkeepers (at least, that's what Napoleon said).

Fitting, then, that Prince Charles is today opening his own shop in Tetbury. It will sell everything from organic carrots to breakfast bowls painted with pictures of the royal hens.

Shocker. Even more villages are facing a 'pub-less' future, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.

Only one thing for it: get out there and support your local.

Seems like even members of the government aren't convinced that closing rural post offices is a good idea. Funny, that, seeing as they all originally agreed to it!

What a great idea this is - a scheme which sees rural churches and post offices working together to protect village services.

Below is a sneak preview of an article Tessa Gates has written for next week's Farmers Weekly about the subject.

... and while we're on the subject of rural services, we've been contacted by a lady called Ailsa in the village of Childrey in Oxfordshire.

They're working hard to ensure the survival of their post office, and there are details on the village website. Good luck with it.

Talking of booze, this sounds like a splendid idea - and one that could provide a much-needed boost for village pubs: CAMRA's Community Pub Week. It kicks off this weekend.