Anna Sabine MP welcomes EFRA chair Alistair Carmichael MP to Frome and East Somerset

Anna Sabine MP welcomes EFRA chair Alistair Carmichael MP to Frome and East Somerset

Anna Sabine MP for Frome and East Somerset welcomed a visit from fellow Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael this weekend to show him first hand the realities facing Somerset farms. 

As chair of the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Alistair scrutinises the work of the DEFRA in Parliament and helps to represent the interests of rural communities such as the West Country. 

On Saturday of last weekend, Alistair accompanied Anna on a visit to Landmark Farm in Wanstrow, owned by local farmers The Mountys. The farm produces beef, milk and arable as well as utilising a wind turbine on their land for green energy. Anna and Alistair toured the farm including the milking parlour and the sheds with some new-born calves, discussing the innovations the farm has made in carbon capture and their aims to exist in a environmentally friendly way. 

Anna has previously met with Craig Mounty as part of discussions with the local NFU and during this visit learnt more about food production and some of the hardships facing farmers under the new Government regulations. 

“I was delighted to be able to show Alistair what we have in Somerset in terms of progressive farming and for Craig and his father to be able to discuss with us both what they see as the major issues inhibiting them.” Anna said, following the visit. 

“The west country is a fertile and abundant area that could be utilised more to help give us food security in the UK, and if we allow farmers to work with us, we can find solutions that are both economic and environmental going forward. Somerset and the farmers here are a crucial asset for the local, and national economy and I hope that we can make improvements to help them facilitate the growth necessary.”