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Environment Secretary Hilary Benn sampled the cream of a Northumberland dairy farm’s new product range during a visit to the region today.
Wheelbirks Farm in Stocksfield secured a £159,000 grant last year from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in order to set up a quality ice cream parlour.
The business was further boosted yesterday when the Secretary of State chose to visit the farm to sample Jersey ice cream and witness first hand how businesses like this are benefiting from RDPE funding.
Mr Benn heard how the first Jersey Cow farm-based ice cream parlour will be created in the area thanks to the funding, which will be part of a larger café serving snacks and light meals. The cash will also help create a shop to sell other products from the farm and from other quality food and drink businesses in the region.
One North East’s Rural Policy and Partnerships Manager, Frances Rowe, said: “Wheelbirks Farm is a glowing example of a local business which has expanded thanks to RDPE funding. Not only will this grant help to boost sales of speciality food from the region, but it will also help the farm to develop as a tourist attraction and tap into the tourism growth that this region is currently experiencing.
“At this critical time economically it is essential that farms are encouraged to explore new ways of generating income and growing their operations for the future.”
Mr Benn also visited Gosforth Park First School as part of his regional visit programme. The visit follows the announcement that financial aid for rural businesses is to be increased to help them through the economic downturn.
Regional Development Agencies will be allowed to raise the funding limit on a range of grants from 50 per cent to 100 per cent funding for projects under the government's £3.9billion RDPE. Defra will now seek approval of the proposed changes from the European Commission so they can be implemented as soon as possible.
Hilary Benn said: “My visit has been really informative, and also extremely enjoyable. Wheelbirks farm is inspiring as it has done a huge amount of work to make a great, tasty local product and look after its wonderful Jersey herd. I hope the RDPE funding helps take the business from strength to strength and that local people will support its work.”
Mr Benn has asked the Commission for Rural Communities and Regional Development Agencies to look at how the recession is affecting rural areas and whether additional help might be needed.
Adrian Sherwood, RDPE Manager at One North East, said: “This visit is a great boost for Wheelbirks who thanks to the funding can achieve even greater business success. In addition the news that RDPE funding is to become more flexible means that more and more businesses like Wheelbirks can continue to prosper and thrive in the North East which is critical at this time.”
The Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, with the aim of delivering targeted support to rural businesses and communities. It is managed in the region by One North East, Natural England and the Forestry Commission.
The RDPE investment being managed by One North East combines larger projects to help many businesses in different sectors of the rural economy – including bioenergy and land-based skills, and projects adding value to agricultural and forestry products – with smaller investments to help individual businesses to start-up, grow or diversify, and support to develop more sustainable rural communities. Rural community partnerships are shaping how at least 25% of the funding is invested themselves, using the LEADER approach.
For more information on Wheelbirks, visit www.wheelbirks.co.uk
For more information on RDPE in North East England, visit: www.rdpenortheast.co.uk
For more information on RDPE, visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/index.htm
-ends-
For more information please contact: Alison Laggan press office, One NorthEast, on (0191) 2296429 or email: alison.laggan@onenortheast.co.uk
RDPE is part of Solutions for Business, the Government’s package of publicly funded support products offering help to companies to start, grow and succeed. Solutions for Business makes it easier for businesses to get the advice and assistance that they need.
‘For further information on the full package of support, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast.or call Tel: 0845 600 9006.
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