MARKETING THE PRODUCTS OF THE HILLS - SPEAKERS

Geoff Brown - Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER + Programme

Geoff Brown has managed the Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER + Programme since 2002. The area covers the whole of the Lake District and the LFA ground south of the A66. The programme assists people adding value to local products and encouraging sustainable economic, social and environmental change. The programme closes in the next few months, with the hope that it will be replaced by support from the Rural Development Programme for England which will be available to farmers, small businesses and rural communities throughout the county.

Tom Metson, Commerical Director, Wensleydale Dairy Products Ltd
Wensleydale creamery is situated in Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  It is the only maker of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese in the world and has submitted an application to the EU for PDO status (Product of Designated Origin).  The company prides itself on tradition with innovation and has become market leaders in the blending of flavoured cheese such as Wensleydale with cranberry, and the waxing of cheese truckles.  The range includes a Wallace and Gromit branded Wensleydale.

Faith Johnson and the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark

The Peak District Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) is a certification mark for businesses that can demonstration environmental best practice and conservation of the Peak District National Park.  It is a national pilot project for Natural England - the model is designed to be applicable in other protected areas.  Faith Johnson has managed the award scheme since 2004 and has a background in environmental management and consultancy and conservation.

Veronica Waller - Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER + Programme

Veronica Waller is hill farming project officer for the Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER + Programme.  She has worked for the Programme since 2003, originally on a project aimed at helping groups of farmers with marketing which included assisting a group of eight herdwick lamb producers in supplying Booths Supermarkets.

Neil Heseltine, Limestone Country Beef
Neil Heseltine farms near Malham in the Yorkshire Dales and has a herd of Belted Galloway cattle.  He acts as secretary of the Limestone Country Beef marketing group which was developed from the Limestone Country Project - a partnership between the farming community, landowners, conservation organisations, and local experts working together with funding from the European Commission LIFE Fund.  The project aims to restore the limestone habitats in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to a favourable condition and supports a return to mixed farming using hardy upland breeds of cattle.

Chris Clark, Managing Director, South Downs Marketing Ltd
Chris Clark was educated at Seale-Hayne Agricultural College followed by twenty years of management experience primarily within the food and agriculture industries.  He is a partner in a marketing consultancy and is managing director of South Downs Marketing Ltd. He also owns and farms 400 acres in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

South Downs Marketing Ltd is a local sourcing business designed to enable livestock producers to add value to their beef and lamb.  South Downs Marketing Limited (SDML) is a mix of farmer and business shareholders in the south east. SDML was launched in 2004 to manage a supply chain of branded lamb in response to the South Downs Conservation Board’s quest to enhance the landscape and subsequently benefit the area’s economy. Farmers are offered a guaranteed flat rate premium payment at the beginning of the season in return for a specific commitment of livestock which is slaughtered and retailed locally.