A farming couple from the Somerset Levels coming to terms with being flooded last winter thank Welsh farmers for their clean up aid and staggering fundraising efforts which is now in excess of £20,000.
Dairy farmers Brian and Mary Hutchings from Moorland, Somerset, were forced to evacuate their stock to neighbouring farms, as their farmhouse, fields and outbuildings were submerged for well over a month by floodwater. Now, with the help of groups of young farmers, including a group from Glamorgan and the local community they’re bringing their home and business back to life.
Abi Reader, along with other representatives from Glamorgan NFU Cymru and YFC travelled to Somerset to see the devastating aftermath of the floods and see how the farming community was recovering. Glamorgan NFU Cymru County Chairman Abi Reader, said, “It was a real honour for me to present a cheque for over £20,000, the largest single donation for those affected by the flooding in Somerset, to the Addington Fund.
“Our donation to the Addington Fund ensured that the money raised here in Glamorgan, through our joint charity evening earlier this year with Glamorgan YFC, consisting of a meal, raffle, promise auction and YFC entertainment, got through to farming families seriously affected by floods in Somerset. We have since donated a further £2,000 from funds that have continued to come in, kindly donated to NFU Cymru from Watts & Morgan.”
Kath Campbell, Glamorgan YFC County Chairman said, “Working jointly with NFU Cymru we were able to raise a substantial amount of money for this worthy cause and also help in the clean-up process. The generosity and the energy shown by local people and businesses was very humbling, everyone who came on that night was there to give and it proves how, in times of crisis, the farming community gathers together to help others.”
Abi Reader explained that the video illustrates the plight of hundreds of producers across England and Wales who were flooded last winter. She said, “NFU Cymru has always argued that we need increased spending on action to reduce flooding. Here in Wales the Welsh Government must ensure they use all the tools in the box to reduce flood risk whether that’s dredging, building and repairing banks, or cutting back vegetation downstream; or storing water and improving infiltration in the right places upstream.
“Our ability to produce food in the face of a more volatile climate depends on it. From what we all witnessed in Somerset, we must reverse the decline in the maintenance of our rivers, sea defences and pumps in all areas of the country.”
In addition to this donation members of Glamorgan Iron Horse, many of whom are NFU Cymru members, presented a cheque alongside Abi Reader for the cause, following a Tractor Run held earlier this year.
