Raising Money for Farm Crisis Network and awareness of the Importance of our Upland Farming Communities.

Sponsored Walk & Charity Auction Saturday 22nd May 2010

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is walking to raise funds for Farm Crisis Network (FCN).

FCN provides pastoral and practical support to farming people during periods of anxiety, stress and problems relating to both the farm household and the farm business. FCN relies on the generosity of others to allow it to provide these vital services to anyone in the farming community and would, therefore, be grateful of your support which will permit them to continue with their work and help make a real difference.

The TFA would be pleased if you would consider helping to raise funds for and, raise awareness, of this vital organisation, which provides invaluable support and assistance. The work carried out by FCN is far reaching and very necessary.

The walk will take place in the Upper Wharfedale starting from Buckden in the Yorkshire Dales. The scenic hill farming area has been selected with two routes of 5 and 7 miles available – the choice is yours depending on your ability. We have chosen Upper Wharfedale for the walk to highlight the importance of our hill areas as national assets. Whilst they are physically, socially and economically remote, agriculture continues to be, and should continue to be, the mainstay of economic and environmental management for these areas despite the severe natural handicaps encountered by farmers who operate in the hill areas.

The hills are extremely important in the wider agricultural industry as they represent the beginning of the livestock production chain. It is the crop of lambs and calves from our breeding flocks and herds in hill areas that are finished further down the hill on lowland units before entering the livestock markets and abattoirs on the way to the supermarket shelves.

Our hill farmers are fundamental in the management of the land and product of food, the knowledge contained within the farming community in hill areas is invaluable and must be the primary source for news policy development. Without the hill community in the uplands making money from ruminant production, the landscape will change out of all recognition in a short period of time. Once it has gone, it will be nearly impossible to get back.

Please join the TFA and walk to raise funds. To register for the walk and obtain further information please contact the TFA Membership Department, telephone 0118 930 6130 or email: membership@tfa.org.uk.

If you are unable to walk but would like to support the cause with a donation, then please send your cheque to the TFA, made payable to FCN or go online and donate via the Just Giving website http://www.justgiving.com/FCN-TFA-sponsoredwalk.