Dale farmers in spotlight as Prince launches upland fund, Teesdale Mercury

UPPER Teesdale was in the national TV spotlight at the weekend as Prince Charles launched a massive fund to help struggling farmers in upland areas.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund is expected to raise millions of pounds over the coming years.

The heir to the throne has stressed that the money will aid small family farms in the uplands.

It will also boost schemes tackling the decline in farming commun-

ities. 

The Prince spoke about his fund on the BBC One programme Countryfile, which used Teesdale as an example of an upland area in need.

He said: “I have thought for a long time that there was a particular 

need to ensure that the small family farmer is able to survive in the 

future.

“There are so many different pressures now and so many difficulties, particularly in upland areas – that’s where most of Britain’s family farms, the mosaic of upland farms, are situated.”

In return for making a donation, companies including Waitrose and McDonalds, can display The Prince’s Countryside Fund logo on their products.

The fund, which will be formally launched on July 22, will also be used in emergencies, such as the Cumbrian floods or the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The Prince said: “It is terribly important to have a fund which is available to draw on in the event of these emergencies and also the countryside generally and rural communities  – there is a great deal more hardship than people realise. It looks wonderful but it isn’t always like that.

“People visit the countryside and it’s always there but people don’t understand how much work has to go into maintaining it and keeping it like that.

“It doesn’t just happen by accident so the important thing is to ensure that rural skills are maintained and young people have a chance to 

take part in rural businesses and skills.”

Sunday’s Countryfile show visited Teesdale to highlight the plight of upland farmers.

Presenter John Craven spoke to farmer Michael Watson, who explained that “there wasn’t much money” in the industry. But he said the way of life kept him in upper Teesdale.

“It’s what I know and I don’t know anything else,” Mr Watson said.

Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (UTASS), of Middleton-in-Teesdale, is among those charities hoping to benefit. 

Prince Charles has strong connections with Teesdale and has visited UTASS on several occasions. 

UTASS has recently been given a £170,000 grant by LandSkills North East to fund its “Farmers of the Future” project, which aims to encourage more young people into agriculture.

The scheme will teach trainees, aged from 16, important skills so the next generation of upland farmers can be found.

It is understood that £1m has already been pledged towards The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Mark Price, the managing director of Waitrose, has backed the Prince’s scheme.

He said: “The long-term future for many of Britain’s smaller, family farmers, especially in our uplands, is very gloomy indeed.”