2011 - Dorset County Farms Centenary

Annual Farm Walk at Crackmoor Farm, Oborne 12 July 2011

This year's farm walk was held at Crackmoor Farm, Oborne which is the largest farm owned by the County Council. Greg & Jenny Kellaway, who hosted the event, have been tenants of the 87.46ha dairy farm since 2005. Greg is also the Tenant Representative for Dorset County Council tenants and is a member of the County Farms Liaison Panel.

The event was well attended by tenants, Mrs Hilary Cox represented the Dorset County Council Members and Mr I Provis and Mr S Dodd who are previous Estate Managers with Dorset County Council were also present. Mr Provis recalls that when he joined the County Farms team in 1967 there were 180 farms/land parcels whereas now they have been rationalised down to 55 larger, more viable farming units. The event was also attended by Dorset County Council Education Officers who were able to discuss Eco Projects within the County's schools with the tenants.

The annual farm walk is greatly appreciated by tenants and members alike and is a good opportunity to show many of the improvements that are being made across the estate.

A day at the show

At this year's 151st Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show the County Farms Estate held a reception for tenants past and present.

The event was well attended and guests included Melanie Squires, the NFU Regional Director for the South West and Neil Parish MP former farm manager and member of the government's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Neil Parish MP said 'I very much congratulate Dorset for keeping their County Farms and building on their success. The countryside and food production are going to be essential in the future, as is getting young farmers started, which is where the county farms play an essential role. If you couple the fact that they're doing a good job for farming and young farmers and also that they are a good capital asset for the county, bringing in good revenue at a time when interest rates are low, they represent value for money.'

Melanie Squires, South West NFU Regional Director. congratulated the County Council and said that 'it is to Dorset's credit that Council Members have remained supportive of the service and that it has been managed in such a way that the Estate not only supports itself but has, through strategic disposals, been able to re-invest in their farms so that these businesses can grow and remain viable whilst ensuring a good return for the Council and its tax payers.

Cllr Hilary Cox said 'We are celebrating a hundred years of a success story and are investing in our Estate so that we can continue for the next hundred years. Our County Farms remain a priority for the County Council because farming is such an integral part of the Dorset landscape.'

1939 - A Year in the Rural Dorset Landscape

Edna Rice was the daughter of a County Farms tenant at Buddens Farm in Melbury Abbas and published her book '1939 A Year in the Rural Dorset Landscape' in 2005 together with Liz Fricker, a freelance writer from Gillingham. This gives a clear indication of growing up on a County Farm in 1939. She also wrote a second book 'Roses and Shamrocks' which takes the reader on a journey from pre-war Dorset to 1970's Donegal, North West Ireland.

Edna Rice's first book included a series of poems depicting the months of the year and her son has kindly granted permission for us to publish these throughout our centenary year.