Farm Stay AGM And Conference Updates

Slaley Hall Northumberland, 13th-15th November 2011

   Farm Stay members pictured at Hadrian's Wall 

Brian Palmer from Overwood B&B in Worcestershire reviews the Partners trip to Kielder Water:

The conducted tour of Kielder Water was a rare opportunity as it was not available to the general public. We walked under the reservoir, up 277 steps to the top to the switch gear. We were given a presentation of the turbines that are used to produce electricity.
After the presentation we went back down the 277 steps, walked along the reservoir and to the machine rooms. We were shown the valve and the water spout where millions of litres of water was spouting out.

This was a whole new experience for me, and everyone else on the tour said this was an extraordinary experience and definitely something that they have wanted to do, but never knew was possible.

Kielder water is one of very few places in the UK where hydroelectricity is produced. Overall we all had an enjoyable day and everyone was pleased as we lunched at a restaurant with a spectacular view over the lake.

Fiona Walker from Knightcote Farm in Warwickshire was a first time attendee at a Farm Stay conference. 

I've been a member of Farm Stay for 16 years and have always wanted to go to the conference, now that the children have grown up we were able to attend this year's conference in Northumberland.
It was great to meet Farm Stay members, everyone was really welcoming and the hotel was lovely. I enjoyed the Cathedral trip, I wanted to go on both trips but we could only choose one.
Guest Speaker Ken Robinson was fantastic, and the partners' trip was a great idea as it gave the partners something to do on the conference day.
I'm glad that I was able to attend a Farm Stay conference at last, and we are looking forward to Wales next year.

                                           Gala Dinner