Set-Aside Revived

When we first moved to West Barns seven years ago the EU set-aside scheme was in operation to reduce surpluses of cereal crops. In the field closest to us, just across the other side of the river the farmer had set-aside strip of about 12 metres around his field where wild flowers were allowed to grow in abundance. But what I remember most clearly were large swathes of poppies growing and how great this would be for my photography.

Unfortunately because of increases in cereal prices the EU set- aside scheme was abolished in November 2008 so it was no longer profitable for the farmer to leave this part of his land fallow. However, some six years later there are still vestiges of the set-aside strips still apparent in these poppies growing among the corn crop. They certainly brighten up the harvest scene.