04/06/06
For the first time at the Great Yorkshire Show trial plots of
grasses and wild flower mixtures have been planted in support of
the "Operation Bumblebee" project, a national initiative
to boost bumble bee numbers in arable farmland.
Visitors checking out the arable plots at the 2005 Great Yorkshire show.
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The number of bumble bees on farms has declined by more than 70%
in 20 years and planting field margins will not only combat this,
but assist farmers gain crucial points for agri-environment scheme
payments. It is hoped that farmers at the show will visit the plots
and thus be encouraged to carry out similar schemes on their own
farm, thus helping to improve the environment. The project is managed
by Syngenta Crop Protection.
In the Arable Enterprise Area eight alternative crops have been
sown, together with four varieties of malting barley. All have
been sown, and are managed by Springdale Crop Synergies based in
Driffield, East Yorkshire and are produced for the medical or plastics
industries.
The crops are:
Crambe: a white flowered industrial oilseed used as a slip agent
in the plastics industry.
Calendula: an orange flowered marigold used in specialist industrial/medical
applications.
Echium: a purple and white flowered crop with use in anti-wrinkle
or cosmetic applications.
Hemp: two varieties, one green/purple flowers
with a dual use for both fibre and seed which is crushed for specialist
food use oil, and another taller species for high quality fibre.
Sweet Quinola: a tall crop with green flowers used in specialist
flours and stock forage
Camelina: Yellow floured oilseed used in cosmetic
and nutraceutical applications.
Borage: Purple flowered oilseed again used in the nutraceutical
industry.
The crops are together in the alternative farming area which is
next to the Gold Gate.
The Great Yorkshire Show is at Harrogate and runs from Tuesday
July 11 to Thursday 13 July
 The Great Yorkshire Show - Something for
Everyone
The
Great Yorkshire Cheese & Dairy Show
Great Yorkshire Show: The Art of Woodcraft
A Record Breaking Great Yorkshire Show
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