Welcome to 'The Archers'

I've had this sneaking impression at work that many of the issues I come across are familiar. Today it dawned on me -- they are all storylines from 'The Archers'.

Some of my followers may not listen to Radio 4 and the everyday story of country folk (don't think they call it that anymore). But the trials and tribulations of the Archers, Aldridges, Grundys, etc, could easily be transposed to Blickling. Everyone is related, or married, or disliked, or befriended. I'm sure I have unwittingly offended various people by being rude about their second cousin. It will be easier for me if I can continue to be oblivious to all these relationships.

Then there are the agricultural story lines. French cattle are more highly strung than British ones (really!) and more likely to start messing around with our visitors walking across parkland. Last week I picked up the phone to a lady reporting an incident with a herd of 25 heifers when she was walking on a footpath across a field. They hurtled past her 4 times before she found a stick to shake at them, and then they ran off. It is a frightening experience and we have to report the incident to our health and safety department. The tenant farmer was informed -- not that there was much he could do as the cattle were all quietly chewing the cud when my colleague the agricultural surveyor (yes, I have one of those) went to have a look.

I get emails telling me about cows that are due for retirement -- anyone interested in taking on several older red poll cattle? I don't think we have to send retirement cards.

Trouble occurs when the conservation aims of the Trust conflict with the business aims of our tenant farmers. At Blickling, the park -- which was once a deer park -- has a number of fields let to farmers for generations. Farm tenancies can be protected by Acts of Parliament (something else I didn't know) for up to 3 generations. The farmers can use the fields largely in any way they desire -- arable, grazing for sheep or cattle, or left to meadow. A survey of the park was done by the Trust over 20 years ago, and certain areas were identified to return to grazing when the opportunity arose, so the historic deer park landscape could be restored. But this means that a tenant is going to lose 'his' arable land, which spoils the balance of his business. The estate has tried to make this transition as easy as possible for the farmer over a number of years, but when it comes to the point of the change happening, he is unhappy. We have to put the tenancy out to tender, to comply with Charity Commission rules. This makes the existing tenant furious as he feels he should get first refusal. It doesn't feel like a happy ending.

And then there is the Aylsham Show, which happens at Blickling over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Who is off to the Borsetshire Show? All together now -- da-de-da-de-da-de-da da-de-da-de-da-da...