For some Foul Reason?

Huttonian is a great fan of the product of Borders Eggs and you can read all about their highly successful concern here. (Don't be put off too much by the writer placing Hutton Castle Barns in Northern England-the Post Office do it all the time)

I also admire the sheer persistence of young Farmer M returning to the charge after several planning reversals including withdrawing a similar application for increasing his Radio 2 serenaded hens from 9000 to 21,000. Neighbourly objections, and there are some, again, focus on the 'foul smell' (Npi)If 9,000 stink what will 21,000 do it is asked (if only in a hot summer which we don't have much)
The tone of the comments seems one of resignation rather than of expected success. Even the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) while expressing continued opposition to the project because of the increased stink, can, apparently, live with it with certain provisions including screening, keeping the hens at a reasonable distance. Perfume bombs from low flying aircraft, have, surprisingly, not been suggested.

Also worth noting that the main objection is from the Community Council on planning grounds. Planning grounds! How quaint! Bitter experience has shown that planning arguments often cut little ice with the highheidyins in Duns and higherheidyins in Newtown St Boswells unless it suits their book. But at least with no high flying developer involved in this case the CC's point may be taken more seriously than usual. I am not too hopeful

It would be wrong too suggest that all the comments are critical-and all can be seen here One member of the public has written as follows:


I write in support of this application and to allay the minor concerns of the neighbours.
a) Grazing on the north side of the buildings.
Mr Richards has raised an issue about this which is in complete contrast to the many positive written commentsby local customers of Border Eggs. They express delight at being able to see the hens ranging in such a healthy and natural environment. We are not aware of any restrictions on farmers as to where they may/may not graze
their livestock on their own land, whether in proximity to a public road or not.
b) Screening
There is an existing hedge to the north of the sheds. When the farm was originally acquired, all hedges and woodlands were in a sadly neglected state and this hedge along with all others has been greatly improved over the years. If the planners wish, it can be allowed to grow a few feet taller to provide more screening. We
believe this to be a better and more natural alternative to the use of artificial screening.
c) Smell
As residents to the nearest house to the sheds, we are not aware of any odours from the hen enterprise. In conversation with Mr. Richards outside number 5 Hutton Castle Barns in spring and autumn 2008, he expressed a similar opinion. The only smell that we are aware of is during the period when local livestock farmers spread dung on neighbouring fields, which is all part of the natural process of livestock farming.
A great deal of hard work, effort and enthusiasm together with financial investment has gone into this enterprise. With the average age of farmers in excess of 55 years, if a member of the younger generation choosesto remain on the land and to try to earn a living from agriculture in these difficult times, we feel he should
be given support and encouragement. These people, providing employment and assisting the local economy, are the future of agriculture in the Borders.

Good stuff. I like the 'minor concerns' being allayed (npi)

Nice point about needing to support a member of the younger generation being prepared to live on the land and make a living out of agriculture in these difficult times.
Especially if its on his fathers farm and the comment comes from

his father.

(The image,thankyou Borders Eggs website, is of Chicken Organic Licken going to the King and asking for Radio Three, please)

Labels: Borders Eggs, Organic Chickens, Pissing off the Neighbours

  ¶ 12:53 PM (3) comments

 
Chicken Licken Good

Football playing Chickens have driven silly dogs off the front page of the Berwickshire News And just around the corner from the Old Manse to boot (No Pun intended)The story goes:


There's fowl play on Hutton farm!

Chickens encouraged to play football to keep them fit and healthy

I believe my chicken's eggs are the best you can buy"
Farmer James Maclean
By Kenny Paterson
TURKEY may have been one of the shock troops of Euro 2008 but they are not a patch on a team of footballing Scots chickens.
The birds like nothing better than a kick around with a football to keep them fit on a free range egg farm near Hutton.
They have punctured at least a dozen red balls since the start of the season according to farmer James MacLean but have not been involved in too much fowling.
He explained the chickens are given free access to the outdoors, fed organic cereals and encouraged to play football to keep them fit and healthy.
They are also fans of BBC Radio 2 which is played to them each day as background music and are regularly given fresh sawdust to scratch in, all part of the owner's commitment to animal welfare.
Mr MacLean claims this has led to the exceptional quality of their organic eggs which will be showcased at the first ever Taste Scottish Borders Food Fair next month.
He set up his firm Border Eggs at Hutton Hall Barns in Berwickshire last year and soon realised his chickens had a passion for the beautiful game.
Mr MacLean, 30, said: "The chickens like the chance to scratch around outside and knock around a football. We also play Radio 2 to them, especially in the mornings as it seems to encourage laying.
"I believe my chickens' eggs are the best you can buy and we'll be selling them at a new food fair which will showcase the very best produce from across the Borders at the end of July."
(The Taste Scottish Borders Food Fair is taking place as part of the ever-popular Border Union Show in Kelso on July 25 and 26 and will feature dozens of producers from the Borders and surrounding areas.)

I wonder if the RSPCA have a position on this. Forced to listen to Radio 2! How cruel is that? Would not the silky charms of Radio Three be more humane for Organic Guardian Shredding Fowl?

I suppose it could be good news for Borders football fans-sign up the best XI chickens for Berwick Rangers-they could hardly play worse than the present selection-and under pressure,peck away-the expression 'dead ball' will have a
new meaning.


The image from the Berwickshire is apparently of Chicken Licken scoring an own goal preparatory to telling the King-or another Highheidyin-that the Sky Aerial (receiving Radio 2) has fallen in.

Labels: Fowl Footballers, Hutton, Organic Chickens

  ¶ 8:15 PM (2) comments