Wherever you walk outside of Chichester City centre you will see farmland all around and that is because we enjoy 118,000 acres of it, which is around 60% of the land. As well as providing jobs for 1000 people, we have more than 18,000 cattle, 40,000 sheep, nearly 10,000 pigs and 27,000 chickens who produce over 8 million eggs a year. That sounds like a lot of eggs but believe it or not the people in the Chichester constituency eat more than 12 million eggs per year!
I spent a great day out with a group of our local farmers learning about their business, what concerns they have and how they see the future of farming outside of the European Union and common agricultural policy. I expected to spend the whole time discussing Brexit, but no, the concerns they have are much more local and more within our own control. The two major concerns they have are sheep worrying and rural crime, particularly theft. More than 90% of the population in the Chichester constituency live rurally so we are usually aware of the careful balance between enjoying our many rural walks and footpaths, whilst respecting farmers and their animals grazing in the fields. However, there are a growing number of issues with dogs attacking sheep, or chasing and scaring them with sad consequences for pregnant ewes. I had no idea that this was such a big problem but time after time this was the number one issue that concerned our local farmers. What I learned was even if you know your own dog would never chase a farm animal it is important that dogs are kept on leads to set an example to others and to avoid “out of character” incidences. I heard many stories about sheep and lambs suffering horrible injuries and it made me think that if we were more aware of the consequences we would all endeavour to put our dogs on leads near to livestock.
Last Saturday was Holocaust Memorial Day and we were privileged to play host to a wonderful opera, PUSH, which was performed in the Cathedral by local community choirs, schools and the University of Chichester Orchestra. Composed by Howard Moody the opera tells the harrowing story of Simon Gronowski who was pushed off a train, bound for Auschwitz, by his mother in 1943. His mother and sister died in the death camps and his father died of a broken heart. Both Simon and Howard were present at the performance and meeting them afterwards was truly uplifting. Holocaust Memorial Day is a poignant reminder that genocide does not take place on its own, it is a steady process that can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented. Chichester Marks Holocaust Memorial Day was set up by Martyn Bell, Trevor James and Clare Apel in 2015 and this opera was brilliant example of our community working together.
