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Country Life Today: Scottish cattle numbers ‘at lowest level for 60 years’

Carla Passino

In today's round up, we bring you news of the struggle faced by Scottish beef cattle farmers, the mystery theft of an artwork in Bath and a warning to coastal dog walkers

Scottish cattle numbers fall steeply

Scottish cattle numbers have fallen to their lowest level for 60 years, according to the latest government figures.

While dairy cow numbers remained unchanged, beef cattle have dropped by 27,600 since last year, a change attributed to the decline in the profitability of beef production.

The sector is currently under pressure due to rising costs and poor market returns.

Results of the Scottish government’s June 2019 census revealed that there are 950,000 fewer cattle today than in the country in 1974, when numbers were at their peak.

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However, the census offered better results for the lamb population. This year 3.25 million lambs were recorded, representing an increase of 4% on last year, thanks to better weather during the lambing season.

Full story (Farmers Weekly)

Here’s to 750 happy returns

Westminster Abbey is celebrating its 750th anniversary with the help of some Royal guests.

Westminster Abbey and the new Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries (Photo © Paul Highnam/Country Life Picture Library)

Westminster Abbey and the new Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries (Photo © Paul Highnam/Country Life Picture Library)

The church as it stands today was built by Henry III (over an older building erected at the time of Edward The Confessor) and consecrated in 1269. The king didn’t stint on expenses — estimates put the cost of the Abbey, which was designed in the then cutting-edge Gothic style and partly decorated with an exquisite mosaic pavement, to £15 million in today’s money.

The Church has long had a connection with the Royal family: The Queen married Prince Philip and was later crowned there, as Queen Victoria had been before her.

More recently, it hosted the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. So it’s hardly surprising that both The Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall attended the service that marks the birthday festivities.

Other events are planned for later this week, including a family day followed by an evening photography session on Wednesday, October 23.

Full story (Reuters)

Bath artwork disappears in mystery theft

Cityscape of Bath depicting St Michael's Without Church, Pultney Bridge and River Avon, Somerset, UK

Did the art theft in Bath have a political motivation?

Thieves have stolen a large installation from a street in Bath’s city centre. Created by textile artist Alison Harper, the artwork was meant to raise awareness of air pollution and would have been extremely difficult to remove as it was made of 69 cloth-wrapped bicycle wheels, which were tied to one another and to some railings.

Police are baffled at the theft: it would have taken too much effort for a prank but, at the same time, the wheels and fibres don’t have enough value to tempt criminals. Some people think it may have been an attempt to quash the installation’s environmental message but, if so, it didn’t work. Artist Alison Harper plans to make a new piece along similar lines.

Full story (Country Life)

On this day

On October 16, 1847, Jane Eyre was published in London. Charlotte Bronte used the pen name of Currer Bell on the landmark novel, which, unusually for the time, used first-person narrative to explore Jane’s thoughts and feelings. This was her second book — her debut manuscript, The Professor, had previously been rejected by publishers.

Jane Eyre went on to become a success and was published in the United States the following year.

Why people are taking up snail farming

Garden snail, Helix aspersa

Snail farming requires little land and has a low carbon footprint but can be a risky business

For those looking to leave the town behind and embrace a rural lifestyle, breeding snails offers a tempting opportunity: it doesn’t need too much land, has relatively contained costs and it’s eco-friendly to boot — not to mention that there’s rising interest in the UK for snail meat and eggs, while slime can be sold to beauty and pharmaceutical companies.

Many have taken the plunge, with one particular Somerset snail farmer looking to turn her county into ‘snail central’ by raising 300,000 gastropods and, possibly, opening a school for other aspiring snail-trepreneurs.

Full story (Country Life)

Dog owners beware as palm oil washes up in Cornwall

Vets are urging people in Cornwall to watch out for palm oil, which has washed up in large quantities on the beaches at Upton and Summerleaze, in Bude.

Solid at room temperature in cooler climates such as the UK’s, the oil forms white lumps that can be quite attractive to dogs. Although it is an ingredient in many processed foods, from cookies to cakes, it can cause gut problems in animals, including blockages and pancreatitis — but the biggest threat is that it is easily contaminated by diesel fuel and bacteria, which pets end up swallowing if they lick or eat the lumps.

Owners should not allow their dogs near the oil and, preferably, should avoid areas where it has appeared.

Full story (Cornwall Live)

And finally… last chance to see Windsor’s lions

The 38 life-size lion and cub sculptures that have graced Windsor’s streets for the past few months are about to have their last (public) roar. The artwork, which has been decorated by a stellar pool of international designers, including Dame Zhandra Rhodes and Burberry and Harrods designer Lisa Stickley, will be on display until Sunday, October 27.

They will then make a two-day appearance at the old Fenwick store at Windsor Yards on November 9 and 10 before being auctioned off on November 28.

Money raised through the sale will be split between Windsor’s Thames Hospice, Tusk the African wildlife charity, cancer charity Look Good Feel Better and the Lions Club.

Full story (Local Berkshire)