By the end of last week nearly 5.5million people had been vaccinated, and for 466,796 it was their second dose. Considering the first was only administered on 8th December, the roll out in 48 days is quite remarkable.
 
How fortunate that Boris turned down the offer to join the EU in acquiring and administering the vaccine. Just like most of what Brussels does, their system has proved to be less than efficient.
 
Years ago when I visited Holland, my generous hosts went to extraordinary lengths to show me the iconic sights across their unique country which included: the beautiful tulip fields, vast numbers of graceful windmills, and the network of cycle routes, many of which pre-dated the arrival of the automobile, which is noteworthy.
 
The Netherlands is one of the most populated countries on the planet, two thirds of which is vulnerable to flooding. The low-lying regions have been fighting back water for more than 1,000 years, when farmers built the first dykes.
 
Windmills have been pumping water off the land since 14th century. In the 17th century the process was intensified as the country was prospering.
 
Donald Trump is not the only one who has been banned from Facebook. It was reported in the Sunday Telegraph that the social media group has sent individuals to Facebook ‘jail’ for up to 48 hours, for mentioning the well-known beauty spot Devil’s Dyke, which it decided was, ‘offensive hate speech’! It has since backtracked and apologised - but really? I wonder how the Dutch would feel about having to rename their dykes.
 
Lamb prices are holding up well despite the scare stories put about pre-Brexit. In fact some farmers are receiving record prices for their lambs. Hopefully the weather is kind  when lambing start in earnest in due course, although we have already had our first arrival at Ote Hall.
 
DEFRA has produced some arbitrary new rules for transporting livestock. It would appear without actually understanding their implications upon the livestock industry.
Following the eight week ‘Improvement to Animal Welfare in Transport Probe’, intended to ban live animal exports from England and Wales for slaughter and further fattening in Europe, a series of measurers for general animal transport, including an unhelpful ban on journeys above 40 miles, on days when external temperatures are forecast to be below 5C or above 30C.
 
Defra also proposes to introduce changes to in-transit head room, which could see two-deck lorries reduced to one. Thus making the transport of lambs unaffordable - certainly double the cost.
 
The priority of all  farmer’s is the welfare of our livestock. We go to great lengths to ensure our sheep, cattle and other farm animals to arrive at their destination in tip top condition. It is therefore a puzzle to understand why DEFRA considers it necessary to bring in new regulations, when the current system works well and has done for decades.
 
The total ban on live exports also makes little sense. Some of the journeys from the South of England across the channel to France, are far shorted than taking livestock to Scotland or the north of England. If there is an open and lucrative market a couple of hours away, surely that journey is preferable to heading north for journeys of eight hours or more?
 
Perhaps those clamouring to kerb this traditional flow of livestock should arrange to accompany a haulier. That way they may understand that the livestock have a safe and reasonably comfortable journey, and are none the worse for their trip on arrival.
 
We are delighted and grateful to Mid-Sussex Planning Committee for granting Ote Hall Farm full planning consent for the farm shop and tea room, last Thursday. This essential development financially future proofs and ensures the independence of Ote Hall Farm into the next century.

We have much to be grateful for in the UK. As I file my copy over 3.8 million injections have been administered, and the target that we will reach 15million vaccinated by mid-February, is well on course.
 
Although depressingly high, the number of cases fell by more than a third last week, suggesting that the latest lockdown measures are working.
 
More large and small scale vaccination centres are opening this week, including High Street pharmacies.
 
There is also good news for small businesses as insurance companies are now required to pay out to businesses forced to close last March. Many had hoped their ‘interruption insurance policies’ – designed to cover losses in the event they had to suspend operations – would help ends meet. Yet, many insurers refused to pay, claiming their policies were not designed to cover nationwide pandemics.
 
It is hard to understand the trend to buy expensive pre-packed ‘prepared vegetables’. A recent article by John Humphreys suggests that prior to lockdown, shoppers were buying for convenience as they were ‘money rich and time poor’. Now he concludes that with more time on our hands we are ‘time-rich and money poor’, therefore doing things we didn’t do before. Including cleaning, scraping and chopping vegetables.
 
This is good news for farmers and growers resulting in less waste and lower energy and labour costs. Also it cuts out the middle man, as well as being better for the environment as less plastic packaging is required.
 
It is encouraging to hear that Rishi Sunak is being tasked by Boris to exploit the advantages and opportunities of Brexit by turning the UK into the ‘Singapore of Europe’.
 
The Chancellor’s new body, called the Better Regulation Committee, will focus in particular on the PM’s big ticket infrastructure projects, dubbed ‘Boris’s bridges and buses’. These, to date, have been hampered by European rules, along with cutting edge science and technology projects, and greater help for struggling small businesses hit hard by the pandemic.
 
Singapore’s low-tax, low-regulation economy, would be welcomed in particular by the financial services industry. Also the programme of regulatory reform will push the boundaries, boost creative thinking and inject pace at the heart of government.
 
Hopefully Priti Patel will now clamp down heavily on criminals and drug dealers – Singapore style. And, introduce their form of National Service which is well overdue in the UK.
 
Encouragingly No 10 is breaking through the gloom of the Covid pandemic by presenting an upbeat vision of the UK’s prospects, now free from Brussels’ stranglehold.
 
More good news for farmers, landowners and rural communities as travellers who set up unauthorised camps on private land face a crackdown. Under a new law, part of the criminal justice bill, intentional trespass will become a criminal offence.
 
This enables the police to seize vehicles and arrest travellers who will face a three month prison sentence or £2,500 fine, or both, if they refuse to move at the landowner’s request.
 
I have on numerous occasions criticised the BBC. However, I have come to the conclusion it is not the organisation which needs reforming but certain over paid staff and presenters who should be sacked, along with several at ITV and LBC. 
 
The BBC makes some very decent programmes, notably the World Service which produces outstanding programmes by excellent presenters.
 
Those letting down the BBC are individuals who are politically biased, self-opinionated and arrogant. They clearly believe they are superior to the VIPs and experts they interview.
 
Many panel games, light comedy and game shows also clearly scrape the bottom of the barrel and come up with dregs. Satire is one thing, outright crude insults another.
 
The British Broadcasting Corporation should present high quality, unbiased news, views, public information and quality entertainment. It is time to stop the smut and derogatory criticism of world leaders, politicians and medical experts.       

It is amazing that nearly 2 million people have already received their first dose of the vaccine. As more distribution centres are opening across the country, the numbers administered daily will rise.
 
This is the result of the government ordering multiple doses last summer, and now managing the logistics and making available funding. The NHS has really stepped up with teams of testers and vaccinators. The doctors, nurses and paramedics who are already exhausted, are quite amazing considering they have been at the coal face for twelve months. Thank goodness the military, and thousands of volunteers have been enrolled to back them up and help with this quite exceptional and mammoth task.
 
This new mutated virus is clearly taking its toll. Unlike the first wave, we now all know local people who have tested positive, are gravely ill, or who have died.
 
We must take extra care, stay home if we can, to protect the ambulance service and our hospitals from becoming totally overwhelmed.
 
The countryside is particularly muddy but that does not entitle walkers to trample across grass and arable fields in their attempt to avoid the mud.
 
People should realise the grass fields they are churning up are our livestock’s dinner plates, and when they also spread out across arable fields they are damaging valuable crops.
 
The countryside can be hazardous. At the weekend a gentleman walking along Cow Lane a footpath at Ote Hall, fell into a shallow ditch as he tried to avoid the mud, unfortunately breaking his leg.
He fell far from the road so had to wait until the cavalry arrived in the form of: Three ambulances, a 6 wheel drive Polaris, 4 paramedics, and 4 guys from the specialist rescue HART team (Hazardous Area Response Team) supported by our very own Ote Hall paramedics Sue and Jerry.
 
By the time they reached him and administered pain relief so he could be lifted out of the ditch onto a stretcher, into the Polaris, then bounced across the fields to the waiting ambulance parked in the drive, which took him to Brighton, the poor guy probably regretted having chosen to go for a walk instead of staying home to watch the football!
 
His accident, although not his fault, used up valuable hard pressed NHS resources – be aware that mud can be hazardous.
 
Who or what takes priority – ancient oak trees or developers, insurance companies and home owners?
 
It is becoming increasingly clear that it is assumed that ‘convenience’, should take priority over ancient and majestic oak trees which have stood their ground for centuries.
 
Beautiful trees are being felled daily by developers, or at the insistence of insurance companies. A prime example is along Isaacs Lane, where some magnificent oak lie prone and lifeless having been cut down before the developers move in to build hundreds of houses north of Burgess Hill.
 
Why they cannot work around these historic landmarks is difficult to fathom. Let alone why on earth local planners and conservation officers allow such destructive vandalism.
 
Insurance companies are just as bad insisting that beautiful ancient oaks which have stood for hundreds of years are felled, in case they extract moisture from the ground causing subsidence to newly built extensions or conservatories.
 
I am sorry but the trees were there before the badly built extensions and conservatories. Ancient oaks should be treated as Grade 1 historic buildings, and surveyors should treat them as such before embarking on their destruction.
 
Where is ‘Swampy’ when you need him? Desk bound bureaucrats, including insurance companies covering their backs, planning officers, councillors and developers who are more interested in cutting costs than preserving the beautiful trees which add value, must be made to preserve and work around these trees. They are our heritage.

The New Year has started well as the doom and gloom mongers have had little to whinge about. The country has not ground to a halt, there are no trucks parked up along the M20, and supermarket shelves remain full.
 
The numbers vaccinated are growing daily, and now the science has indicated that delaying the second jab for up to three months is equally effective. This advancement makes it possible to protect twice as many individuals against the virus in the early weeks, than originally planned.
 
As the first jab gives 89% protection, this development is spectacularly positive. Perhaps the likes of Dame Joan Bakewell who is publicly complaining that she feels hard done by, should be more considerate to others.
 
Whatever happened to the British Bull Dog Spirit when grouchy old bats like Dame Joan let the side down?
 
All my elderly friends are made of stronger stuff as they are only too happy to delay their second dose so others can share the benefit.
 
More good news for shoppers, as leaving the EU makes it possible to increase the upper limit on contactless payments from £45 to £100. A step away from European Commission’s rules, which could also help reduce the spread of covid-19.
 
Encouraging reports for livestock farmers as statistics show that in 2020 red meat sales were up by £439m. Trade across the country show an increase of beef sales by 26.9%, with the trade through independent butchers almost double the national average at 49.1%. Pork trade was up 24.2%, and lamb sales by 24.9%.
 
How nice to see farming has attracted young entrepreneurs such as William Banham aged 13. He set up his own business raising a small flock of sheep on land he rents from a local farmer in Dorset. William, who is not from a farming background, at the age of six started attending a local farm to learn all he could about sheep, before starting his business aged 12.
 
He rears his lambs until they are ready to go to slaughter, and has a healthy attitude in accepting their destiny. The meat and skins are marketed as ‘Will’s Lambs’. Who could not admire this very enterprising young man.
 
There is a growing realisation that the Government’s  new green farming policy will actually increase global warming, as Britain will be forced to import meat with a bigger carbon footprint. Farmers are being ‘seduced’ by green payments which will replace SFP, to abandon livestock farming and plant trees on what today is productive and CO2 capturing pastures.
 
Why would we prefer to eat imported meat flown in from places such as Brazil, where rain forests are being destroyed in order to grow soya to feed ruminants which are designed to eat grass, not corn or soya?
 
During the height of the lockdown last year, CO2 emissions from transport including aviation, reduced by half. However, the number of cattle remained constant; their effect upon UK greenhouse gas was negligible.
 
Before it is too late, someone with an ounce of common sense must step in to advise the Government against their headlong dash into ‘Green Agriculture’ becoming irreversible and hugely damaging to the country, the countryside and our reputation.
 
By encouraging further destruction of rain forests we are contributing more to climate change, than traditional British farming will ever do.
 
As the weeks go by we shall notice the advantages of exiting the stifling clutches of the EU, from cutting the Tampon tax to getting our vaccines efficiently, unlike the chaos across the EU due to shortages.
 
For those who remain concerned that the EU still has some hold over us, I believe they should be reassured that before long the EU will no longer exist as other nations follow our example and seek their freedom.
 
To read Carola’s columns in full, go to: www.carolagodmanirvine.com
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