Livestock Foundation seeks to save agricultural heritage

AN ORGANISATION CALLED the Livestock Foundation is trying to set up a new collection of agricultural artefacts and historical records.

The foundation wants to keep farming’s heritage safe whilst raising public awareness of how agriculture has shaped the landscape and inspired artists.
 
“The farming community is growing smaller each year,” said Livestock Foundation chairman Mike Keeble.

“If we don’t create a permanent record of its heritage now, we will never have another opportunity.”

Mr Keeble has secured a £5,000 UnLtd Level 1 Millennium Award, which will enable the organisation to be constituted as a charitable trust so that it can raise money from sponsors and donors.

It will also pay for the printing of a promotional brochure, which has been designed for free by the Dairy Council.

The foundation is working with Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham and is in talks with a large country estate, which is interested in housing the project.

It has already been given the National Dairy Museum Collection and another organisation has offered its silver cups and trophies.

Although the emphasis will be on cattle and sheep, the foundation is interested in all types of livestock including pigs, chickens, horses and working dogs.

Its resources will be made available to students and school pupils, and there are plans for a mobile ‘rural embassy’, which will house touring exhibitions of country life.

Families will be able to take advantage of air-conditioned, fireproof storage facilities to preserve their heirlooms, which can be retrieved at a later date or copied in digital form for their own use.

“The Livestock Foundation will preserve an important part of our rural heritage and raise awareness of how agriculture has shaped today’s countryside,” said UnLtd regional director Zulfiqar Ahmed.

“We are delighted to be able to help with a cash award and development support.”