Ash Gilman

We are delighted to announce the appointment of former MP Jo Churchill as our next chair. Jo will replace Norfolk farmer Rob Mutimer, who steps down after five years in the role, on March 16. Welcome jo! nationalpigassociation.co.uk/former-mp-jo-c…

Jonathan Freedland finally says it: Britain is drowning because there’s a Brexit-shaped hole in the roof …. and Labour refuses to fix it. Reeves can juggle taxes all she likes, but nothing improves until we face the truth. We’re poorer because of Brexit. We stay poor if Labour continues to protect it. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Yesterday the 52nd annual snow patch survey took place in north-east Scotland. That total number of Cairngorms’ patches counted was a soul-crushing *seven*, by far the least ever recorded (previous lowest was 53, in 2017). (Descriptions in photos.) ©️Civil Air Service

The view from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster as we soared over London and led the flypast over Buckingham Palace to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2. Lest We Forget. #VE80 #VEDay #VEDay80

I'm fundraising for Norfolk Community Foundation. Check out my @JustGiving page and please donate if you can. Thank you! #JustGiving justgiving.com/page/ash-gilma…

We have given up waiting for our SFI agreement to come through, and have started sowing wheat in areas we planned to leave as habitat. In my time on the farm cash flow has never been tighter, so we can’t risk leaving fields bare for a scheme we may not be accepted into.

𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲́𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟱𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 💙 There were 40 solo skippers who set off on November 10 in front of a cheering crowd, for a race that will go down in history. They took on the raging seas their faces lined by effort and fatigue, amazing feats, joy as deep and intense as some felt sorrow, suspense, fear, many words but also a lot of silence, when humility demands silence in the face of the immensity of nature… This new 52-minute documentary immerses the audience in the heart of this exceptional 10th edition, with exclusive summaries from the skippers, punctuated by spectacular images from the race course and informative explanations of the sailors' routes around the world. 🎞️ Watch the movie ▸ youtu.be/TtVXw3-_lDw 📷 The documentary will also be available on the following TV channels ▸ urls.fr/xyiWfQ

I will just leave this here

With the ever present threat of African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease in Europe, @SarahDykeLD is right to point out that since Sept 2022 170 tonnes of illegal meat have been seized at Dover alone. This represents a significant vulnerability in our biosecurity picture.

The British skipper @GoodchildSam makes a memorable return to Les Sables d'Olonne 🤩

📰 Great expectations Vendée Globe leader @CharlieDalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) is well into the final 24 hours of his Vendée Globe, knowing now that the victory he so narrowly missed four years ago will be his early tomorrow, Tuesday morning if everything goes to plan. At 0600hrs UTC this morning his lead over perennial rival @yoannrichomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) is some 190 miles with just over 200 miles to sail. He will very soon pass the moment when he is closer to the finish than Richomme is to him. Dalin is still headed north of the ideal layline into Les Sables d’Olonne and the zone of lighter winds close to the French coast still lies in wait. News 📷 bit.ly/4gOo0l2

Upware now today

Wishing Gavin Hastings a very happy birthday 🎂 Enjoy this monster kick from the archives 🤯 #AsOne

Shocking new figures show 147 tonnes of illegally imported meat has now been seized at @PortOfDover - much of it pigmeat from ASF-infected parts of Romania. Our huge thanks to DPHA for their vital work. They must be properly funded in 2025. More here: nationalpigassociation.co.uk/npa-calls-for-…

How sensible….. No solar panels on farmland

The #familyfarmtax has ensured a humanitarian crisis. @NFUtweets pesident @ProagriLtd is right to warn that elderly and ill landowners may commit suicide to pass assets on before the changes are introduced. Experts at Central Association of Agricultural Valuers estimate that 2,500 farmers will be hit every year by this pernicious tax, five times higher than the dodgy treasury figures. Trade groups representing 160,000 family-owned businesses will write to Ms Reeves calling for the Government to reconsider the changes by launching a consultation. The letter, organised by Family Business UK and signed by groups including the NFU, British Independent Retailers Association and Hospitality UK, warns that the economy will be “starved of much needed investment leading to forced, premature business sales and the loss of jobs in constituencies across the country”. It adds that BPR and APR “are not loopholes” but designed to encourage investment.

'There will be catastrophic implications and I would urge the government to change course!' Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Robbie Moore, reacts to reports that show the inheritance tax raid may cost the Treasury over £1 billion more than it makes.

🎄👏🏽 A HUGE congratulations to North Walsham Young Farmers Club for raising £5,000 for charity with their annual Christmas Light Tractor Run!

This should be another nail in the coffin for the #FamilyFarmTax. It hits the people it should protect, and protects the people it should tax. And now we find out it won’t even raise any money! Pause, reflect, consult, amend. That’s what this needs.

“Analysts estimate that 125,678 jobs will be lost as a result. Overall, the loss of economic activity will lead to a £2.6bn reduction in income from taxes such as corporation tax, income tax and national insurance over the next five years”. What an own-goal! archive.ph/2024.12.16-062…