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First Livestock Grant for Derbyshire Farm

26/09/2008

East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has awarded a Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) grant to a livestock project in Derbyshire.

Bluebell Dairy Ltd in Spondon is set to receive just over £144,000 of RDPE grant funding to help convert existing farm buildings into a purpose-built ice cream parlour to manufacture and sell luxury ice cream, made with milk produced on the farm. This new venture will enable the farm to diversify its current business activities and improve its competitiveness.

Owners Geoffrey and Rosemary Brown explained: “As dairy farmers we recognised that the farming industry was becoming more challenging and that we needed to do more to generate enough income to survive. By diversifying and expanding our business, we aim to maintain the existing dairy farm and secure its future.

“The emda RDPE grant will be used to convert existing redundant farm buildings into an ice cream parlour, tea room and farm shop. It will also help to develop a children’s farm and play area that will focus on giving rural information through educational activities such as nature trails and farm visits.”

It is anticipated that the new facilities will be open by December 2008, creating five new jobs and four new tourism and retail opportunities, as well as safeguarding the farm’s employment.

Commenting on the grant award to Bluebell Dairy, Andrew Morgan, emda’s Skills and Communities director, said: “It is vital that we invest in rural livestock businesses like Bluebell Dairy through RDPE to help ensure sustainable economic development.  Improving the economic output of livestock farms through diversification is also important to ensure that our region’s agricultural industry continues to develop and adapt.”

RDPE aims to support land based businesses across England until 2013. emda is responsible for delivery of the socio economic elements of the Programme in the East Midlands on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the European Union. Approximately £60m is available for the region over the next five years. emda has been advised by Defra that £12m of this funding should be made available for East Midlands-based livestock businesses such as Bluebell Dairy.
Visit www.emda.org.uk/rdpe to find out more.

ENDS

For further information on this press release or to request any interviews, please contact Clare Baker, Media and PR Manager, on 0115 988 8583 or email clarebaker@emd.org.uk

About RDPE

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the European Union, emda has approximately £60m available for projects in the East Midlands until 2013.

Projects must demonstrate how they add value to agricultural, horticultural or forestry products, improve co-operation and collaboration between businesses, and promote diversification in the rural economy to be eligible for grant funding.

Some of the money has been allocated specifically for livestock businesses to focus on projects that improve competitiveness, nutrient management and animal health and welfare.  Funding will also be available for skills development in rural businesses and organisations – focusing on training in management and business development.

About emda

East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.  Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) ‘A Flourishing Region’, which sets out regional priorities until 2020.  The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; ‘Prosperity Through People’ and ‘Destination 2010’.  In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent assessment of our work - scoring 22 out   of 24.  For more details visit www.emda.org.uk