Local chairman Martin Gill had visits from both the Police and a group of beavers (not the dam making variety) but the youngest membership group of the scouting family. 

The Police were promoting rural watch following more than a dozen reports of barns and outbuildings being broken into in Thornbury and villages off the A38 in Gloucestershire. Police believe that quad bikes are the main targets. The aim is to offer support to farmers, stables and rural households to combat crime improve their security and encourage them to report anything suspicious to Police. anyone who signs up for rural watch will get updates when a crime is reported in their area. the team will also offer a property marking service for the top five most commonly stolen pieces of equipment. 

Martin urges farmers and rural residents to take up the offers of advice and property marking and welcomed the support for the rural community. Later Martin entertained 15 beavers to a farm walk showing them the different aspects of farming and the machinery involved. All the beavers went away with copies of the NFU activity book, lets talk farming after having had a very enjoyable time.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members a happy New Year and hope they all had a Merry Christmas. It has been a busy couple of months in Berkeley and South Gloucestershire. on a very stormy night in November over 40 members attended our winter warmer at Jim Nichols Farm where over 30 vintage tractors and vehicles were on show. A very tasty barbecue was provided by Dave Allen another of our members and our thanks to David Spratt for providing the drinks. Our rising media star, Richard Cornock was present and he informed me that he now has a regular farming slot on Radio bristol. Everyone enjoyed what was a very successful evening and we raised over £90 from a raffle for R.A.B.I.

A cross compliance talk was held at Tortworth estate offices and although attendance numbers were low all present agreed that an excellent update was given by the speaker Ross Cherrington. 

The AGM was held at the Swan in Thytherington and the minutes have been sent out to all members. 

21st January Agriculture House Gloucester  - Defeating Farm Criminals in 2011.