Last updated 19:38, Thursday, 17 April 2008

WHAT is Cumbria Vision? The name should be a bit of a giveaway – a forward-thinking organisation designed to improve life and business in Cumbria.

Its agenda is wide-ranging and inclusive of all areas and all peoples in the county. Sadly and amazingly, the agricultural aspect of Cumbrian life has been overlooked by the great and the good of Cumbria Vision.

As Ann Risman of the Pentalk rural network pointed out, farming has been airbrushed out of the forward-thinking blue skies plan drawn up by the organisation.

This scheme was launched at an expensive economic summit last week where Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell was paid to provide an inspirational speech.

She mentioned farming because she grew up on one, but no one else did.

Surely now – with a huge increase in interest in food, where it comes from and how it is produced – is the time to be strengthening our links with the countryside. Cumbria still has a rural economy, despite disease and a lack of interest by successive governments.

It is still vital to our daily lives and is a key part of the Cumbrian character.

As we report today, more than 20 north Cumbrian schools are visiting farms as part of the Year of Food. Helping youngsters to have a deeper appreciation and better understanding of food, where it comes from and the importance of care and quality in its supply.

That Cumbria suffers from the worst economy in the country and one of the worst in Europe is not the fault of the people who live here – that is down to decades of apathy from Government and big business.

Surely part of the aim of Cumbria Vision is to celebrate and enhance our heritage and our difference from the rest of the country while maintaining our values of hard work and community spirit.

All of this is rooted in the land which is worked and cared for by farmworkers who deserve to be included in our future plans as much as any other sector of the county.