Nuffield Poultry Group Spring Weekend in York 8–10th May 2015
The aim of the weekend is to organise visits which give an insight into innovative farming
and business practice within a relaxed social context.
Poultry, dairy and potential scholars enjoyed an excellent weekend kindly hosted by Simon
(NSch) and Christine Carlton in Yorkshire. Known for its friendly, straight talking, thrifty and
opinionated folk it is no surprise the region enjoys an enviable reputation for producing
healthy crops of Nuffield scholars.
The weekend started for early arrivals on Thursday evening at the Royal York Hotel. With
impressive walls, great museums and the largest gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe the
city formed an impressive backdrop for our base for our agricultural explorations.
Friday morning was the first formal visit to see Nick (NSch) and Lorna Chippindale’s new
state of the art egg packing operation at Knaresborough. They also kindly supplied lunch.
In the afternoon we went to Stephen (NSch) and Tricia Throup’s farm partnership (Nun
Monkton Estate) to see a new tiered egg laying system, pullet rearing, biomass boiler and a
very impressive Hydro generator on the river Ouse. We were then treated to some wine
tasting at his sister Gillian and husband Chris Spakouskas’s Yorkshire Heart Vineyard
(sponsored by Stephen and Tricia). It was a return to the city for an evening meal held in the
atmospheric Victorian Street of The Castle Museum.
Saturday saw us travel to St Helen’s Farm alongside Yorkshire Dairy Goats Ltd where the
milk, cheese and yogurt are processed. St Helen’s Farm milk more goats than any other
enterprise in the UK and David Alvis (NSch) is the MD. Goat husbandry was to a very high
standard and we heard about their very sophisticated and integrated breeding programme.
Lunch was in the State Room at York’s Mansion House (The Lord Mayor’s official
residence). The afternoon allowed some free time before assembling for the formal dinner at
the Royal York Hotel where our Chairman had the opportunity to thank our sponsors.
Sunday morning was time for our AGM where Sara Gibbins (NSch) reported on last years
Autumn Study Tour to Japan. Then followed updates from two current scholars Sophie
Edenborough (reducing antibiotic use in broilers) and Werner Strydom (reducing
campylobacter in the UK supply chain) two important and excellent reports for the poultry
industry.
After the AGM, we made a short visit to York Chocolate Story to hear about the Rowntree,
Terry and Craven family confectionery business and the innovative management practices to
improve care of workers through welfare programmes.
Sunday lunch was in the ‘Countess of York’, a most quaint carriage at the National Railway
Museum before the group departed for home.
The Nuffield Poultry Group sincerely thanks our Sponsors; Anitox, Devenish Nutrition and
MSD Animal Health for their generosity in supporting this informative weekend.