Idyllic, breathtaking, enchanting, captivating…

These are all words that people use about the countryside when they capture the countryside for instagram, and they’re right, the countryside is all of these things…

But sometimes, it’s easy to overlook that it retains that beauty because of an army of country people, who toil day in and day out to carry out the age old cycle of plant, tend and harvest.

That cycle is relentless, unforgiving and has to happen regardless of the weather, how you’re feeling, or what else is going on in your life.  There are no duvet days on a farm, things just have to be done, rolling over and letting the animals feed themselves is not an option.  The cycle also pays no heed to family events, especially in the summer when if the weather’s good and a crop is ready, the machinery has to be running.

Neither Holly nor I are from farming backgrounds but we are part of the country community and know what a toll it takes on many of the people we know and work with.

Obviously many people have difficult jobs and work hard, but few occupations are completely at the mercy of the weather and make a product that with no idea what it will make money-wise until it is safely stored and sold. 

A spate of bad weather at the wrong time can completely wipe out a year or more of hard work, and then more money needs to be spent to clear the lost crop to get the field ready for next year. The sad reality for many farms is that they just don’t have that money to spend, farms are very often asset rich but profit poor.

A recent study by the Farm Safety Foundation showed that 92% of farmers surveyed under 40 cited mental ill health as their biggest worry, which is an alarming statistic in an industry which already has a high accident and suicide rate.

That’s why raising awareness of the help that is out there for people is absolutely key, we’ve chosen to support the R.A.B.I. (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) as part of our Journey interviewing people for Countrywoman’s Guide.

Emma says, ‘My business, Hiho Silver, has supported RABI with fund-raising wheat sheaf jewellery for a couple of years, but the need to really highlight the support that is out there really hit me this year.  Both of my sons are at agricultural university and sadly one of their friends took his own life this year.  It’s not my story to tell, but as a parent I just want to do something that raises awareness that help is out there.”

With our Countrywoman’s Guide interviews, we hope to raise further awareness by talking to people who have been through challenging situations and asking them to each share something that they learnt that we hope will inspire others to see that they can make it through too.

Please donate if you can or simply share to raise awareness of the support that they offer. Thank you.