Intake Farm horse and cart but today ’ s larger tankers would find it tricky on the roads in and out of Littlebeck .’
Finding the right market for lamb produced by hill sheep not generally in prime demand at livestock markets brought about a co-operative called Seven Hill Farmers in 2009 , with Robert as one of the seven and such has been their success that more than 30 Moors farmers are now involved .
‘ We have around 300 Moors sheep mostly Scottish Blackface and 150-160 Mules bred from the Moors sheep put to either the Suffolk or Texel to produce fat lambs . We lamb from March to early May .
‘ Mule wether and halfbred lambs all go through Seven Hill Farmers . We started eight years ago sending 1500 lambs to Welsh Country Foods in Anglesey and last year sent 15,000 to St Merryn in Wales which supplies Tesco , with some also going to ABP in Dorset . A truck comes here every fortnight from September to March to pick up between 40-60 lambs . That doesn ’ t mean we don ’ t also support the live market . I value the way they set the price and we buy at the tup sales in Ruswarp .’
Robert studied at the East of Scotland agricultural college in Edinburgh and worked for a dairy farm in the Borders while at college .
He met Judith , a
Durham lass and a vicar ’ s daughter who was studying biology at Edinburgh University .
Robert ’ s original plan had been to go abroad but returned home when his mum became ill . Sadly she died from cancer a month or so after he had come back and he stayed to help his father . He and Judith married in 1980 and have three daughters – Sarah , Julie and Clare .
Judith runs the B & B accommodation with three rooms in use . She ’ s currently in her 20th year .
‘ I started in 1998 . We get walkers doing the Coast to Coast walk and the majority are on their last night having set off from St Bee ’ s near Whitehaven ,”
WHITBY NFU MUTUAL IS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ROBERT & JUDITH VENTRESS
Taking the time to offer you attentive , personal , local service for your insurance , pensions and investments .
Call 01947 603 550 for a quote or pop in
& speak to one of our advisers at , 6 Victoria Square , Whitby , YO21 1EA
The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited ( No . 111982 ). Registered in England . Registered Office : Tiddington Road , Stratford upon Avon , Warwickshire , CV37 7BJ . Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority . A member of the Association of British Insurers . For security and training purposes , telephone calls may be recorded and monitored .
she explains . “ It ’ s only another 11 miles to Robin Hood ’ s Bay and we do get one or two who are on their first night if they ’ ve set off from there . We ’ re now in the Coast to Coast guide book as one of the official stops and the Packhorse company sends a lot of people here through recommendations on their website .
‘ We have up to six people here every night . There ’ s really nowhere else for them to go
very easily once they are here and I find they have had their fill of pub meals by the time they arrive and are desperate for vegetables , fruit and home cooked meals . We serve our own beef and lamb .’
Religion plays its part at Intake Farm . At the foot of Littlebeck is a small Methodist chapel . It was built on land given by Robert ’ s great grandfather Henry . Robert qualified as a lay preacher back in 1981 .
Mike Parker
Agricultural Contractor
Mike Parker & family is pleased to be working with Robert & Judith Ventress & wish them continued success .
ROUND & SQUARE BALING
• Wrapping in field or at stack
• Baling & Wrapping in one pass
• Grass cutting • Tedding & Raking
FORAGE HARVESTING
• Full or Part Operations
• Grass • Maize
• Wholecrop
• Digger hire ( with & without driver )
• Stubble to stubble
• Muck spreading
Call . 01947 880266 | Mob . 07748 925801 | Email . m . lparker @ hotmail . co . uk Knaggy House Farm , Sneaton , Whitby , North Yorkshire , YO22 5HZ
www . farmers-mart . co . uk Autumn 2017 83