Wakefield Diocese - Rural issues

As a diocese which enjoys many benefits from its rural communities and the farming industry within them, it is important that we are aware of the issues affecting them.

The Rural Officers aim to work with parishes to bring about a growing sense of awareness of the changes, both positive and negative, while offering encouragement and advice to all who work, live, worship and visit rural areas. They aim to build up the level of pastoral support to those directly affected by the present changes.

Two Rural Officers with specific responsibilities are:

Hugh Baker

Revd Hugh Baker (with particular focus on broader rural issues)
01924 278384
The Vicarage, 2 Netherton Hall Gardens, Netherton
Wakefield WF4 4JA

Dennis Handley

Revd Dennis Handley (with particular focus on farming)
01484 309469
The Rectory, 2 Westgate, Almondbury
Huddersfield HD5 8XE

Present government initiatives receiving a special focus:

The incorporation of what was the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food into DEFRA.
The setting up of the Commission for Rural Communities.
The Rural Strategy (2004).
The England Rural Development programme.
The Government's Regional Rural Affairs forums, that have been established for each English region.
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) single payment scheme 2005.
The Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Biosecurity when visiting farms

An outbreak of Blue Tongue disease is likely in 2008. For information about the Blue Tongue Virus, Bovine Tuberculosis and important biosecurity measures necessary when visiting farms, follow the links below:

Biosecurity when visiting farms
Biosecurity when visiting farms - procedures and checklist
Blue Tongue Virus Information
Blue Tongue Virus - detailed information (large download - pdf 4MB)
Bovine Tuberculosis Information

RuSource - help for the farming community

Extensive flooding in 2007 and various disease outbreaks have had a very damaging effect on our farming community. We are urged by many, not least Archbishop John Sentamu to do what we can to support them in this difficult time. This briefing paper gives details of a number of practical support groups that can be turned to for advice and help by those in need. The information can be given to any who you feel would benefit from what they have to offer. The groups are also good places to send any support or financial help you feel called to give knowing that it will be used wisely and to good effect.

Communities Against Post Office Closures (CAPOC)

A group of communities fighting plans to close their Post Office branches has launched a national organisation, Communities Against Post Office Closures (CAPOC) and hope that their experiences of dealing with the nationwide plan to shut 2500 branches will help other communities who may not yet know they're being targeted.
The website, www.postofficeclosures.org.uk, contains a wealth of hard-learnt lessons, advice on how to fight PO Ltd proposals, contacts in the media, politics, community affairs and other protest groups, briefings, copies of reports, documents and links to other useful websites, a forum in which to share views and opinions and much more.

For current or back copies of information and advice please click on the links below:

Thoughts from a Northern Mart - September 2008

Contingency Plan for an Animal Disease Outbreak - September 2008

Information about bird flu
from Worcester Chaplaincy for Agricultural and Rural Life (pdf 108kb).

Also available:

Yorkshire Church on Show - a Christian presence at the Yorshire Show - Autumn 2008 newsletter (pdf 1.3MB).
A review of 'Seeds in Holy Ground' - a workbook for rural churches.
Introduction to the Rural Officers .
Rural Harvest Resources from the Yorkshire and Humberside Churches Regional Commission.

Diocese of Wakefield

Support. Issues. Rural.