IN BRIEF

2 February 2001

IN BRIEF

&#8226 NORTHUMBERLAND Wildlife Trust is on the look-out for a herder to tend 75 wild goats on its nature reserve at Whitelee, near the Scottish border. The job will also involve controlling some of the pests that threaten the rarer breeding birds in the area.

&#8226 THE Department of the Environment has appointed a junior minister whose responsibilities will include the countryside and wildlife. Bob Ainsworth, MP for Coventry North East, has been government whip since 1997 and previously sat on the environment select committee.

&#8226 students from Hartpury College, Glos, have teamed up with the police to produce a rural policing directory as part of their coursework. The handbook has been produced with the aim of assisting in tackling crime and disorder in the area.

&#8226 A LEADING campaigner against organophosphate pesticides has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Plymouth. Elizabeth Sigmund of the OP Information Network said she was delighted to learn of the award. Mrs Sigmund has championed the cause of farm workers who claim their health has been damaged by exposure to OP sheep dips. Plymouth University said it was conferring the Doctor of Science degree in recognition of Mrs Sigmunds achievements in the field.

&#8226 Ritchey Taggs UK sales manager John Robinson has been selected to represent Great Britain in Olympic Skeet (clay pigeon) Shooting at the world championships to be held in Cairo, Egypt, from May 3. As well as his job at Ritchey Tagg Mr Robinson also manages a 40ha (100-acre) holding and pedigree Red Devon cattle herd in Devon. He is Great Britains Olympic Skeet Shooting champion.

&#8226 FARM-Africa has won the News International Not-For-Profit Award at the Worldaware Business Awards. The farming and development agency won the award for its Meru and Tharaka-Nithi dairy goat and animal healthcare project in Kenya. The project established sustainable systems of breed improvement and veterinary services and has increased the income and welfare of families by improving the productivity of goats.

FARM-Africa has assisted in the training of paravets for animal welfare and brought goats from Britain for cross-breeding, increasing milk production. &#42