A group of VIPs from countries including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Spain and Poland will be among 16 European government officials exploring Lincolnshire farms and businesses to see how successful green farming and diversification schemes work in the East Midlands.
The visitors will arrive on 25 September to begin a two-day tour, organised by Defra's Rural Development Service (RDS) in the East Midlands and supported by GOEM and The Countryside Agency.
The delegates will have an opportunity to find out more about grant funding available to farmers and rural businesses under Defra's rural development programme (ERDP) and exchange ideas and experience about the future for sustainable development in rural areas.
During the trip they will follow a footpath funded under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme at Elms Farm in Swaby situated in the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to take in spectacular views of the glacial valley. The VIPs will see how the Countryside Stewardship Scheme helps protect and extend wildlife habitats and improves opportunities for people to enjoy the countryside.
The visitors will also take in Fold Hill Foods near Boston, a farming company and pet food producer that recently received a Processing and Marketing Grant to add a new production line. They will see how grant funding can encourage farming and rural businesses to identify innovative opportunities to add value to their produce, respond effectively to consumer demand and achieve a competitive edge.
The tour will end with a conference on Saturday where the delegates will get the opportunity to find out more about schemes available under Defra's England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) and feed back their thoughts on the projects they've seen throughout the visit. They will then give a presentation on current farming practices and rural development programmes in their own countries contributing to the theme of the conference 'Sustainability through rural development'
Sue Buckenham, Regional Manager for RDS in the East Midlands said:
"We're hoping the trip will enable the delegates from Spain to Hungary to develop a better knowledge about the schemes we offer and the environmental, social and economic effects they have in rural areas.
"Sharing best practice is seen as a vital part of the Defra and RDS policy of involvement and continuous improvement and this opportunity to learn from others and establish regional perspectives to influence national policy for change to the Rural Development Programmes will be invaluable.
"From the visit we're hoping the European countries will gain a better understanding of farming practices across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands as a whole."
Notes for Editors
The full itinerary for the visit follows. For further information or a photo opportunity contact Helen Clarke at GNN on 0115 9712787.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE EAST MIDLANDS
EC CONFERENCE
25th -28th SEPTEMBER 2003
PROGRAMME
Thursday 25th September
Welcome meeting
Friday 26th September
08.45 Arrive Lincoln Cathedral for tour
10.30 Arrive Elms Farm, Swaby- (Countryside Stewardship Scheme)
Farm Walk and presentation
13.00 Arrive Bateman's Brewery for tour and lunch, sourced entirely
from the East Midlands
15.15 Arrive Fold Hill Foods (Processing & Marketing Grant
Scheme)
18.00-18.30 Arrive The Olde Barn Hotel
19.30 Formal Dinner
Saturday 27th September
09.30 Arrive Hill Holt Wood for tour and presentation
11.00 Depart Hill Holt Wood
14.00 Conference at Stoke Rochford Hall
