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Andrew Elsden - stories, tales , rural and social and business issues past and present as I see them.
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Woad
In this article I look at the rise and fall of woad production in the Fens.
Sep 2611 min read
Lincolnshire -Church Towers and Minster
The Fens abound with churches and the Wolds have their minster.
Aug 291 min read
Look at the Winners
Protesting farmers just don't get it. They need to look at the winners.
Feb 186 min read
Identity of Creatures
The Fen Tiger was part myth and part man in his stories and identity. But the Fen Tigers of old were interwoven with their environment....
Jan 66 min read
Inheritance Tax - The Experience
Here I explain the reality of inheritance tax . In 2007 I was outside my son’s school when I bumped into a local farmer – at least I...
Nov 17, 20243 min read
"Inheritance Tax will not affect Small Family Farms." What is a small family farm?
“Only the richest estates will pay – not small, family farms.” This is the repeated phrase parroted by the Chancellor and other Labour...
Nov 15, 20244 min read
Farm Inheritance Tax Relief – It needed Reform but this is flawed.
My experience with Inheritance Tax and especially with Farm Inheritance Tax Relief is that it appears to be applied inconsistently and...
Nov 14, 20243 min read
Business and Agricultural Property Relief Inheritance Tax Changes - email to my MP
In the Chancellor's Autumn budget of 2024 changes were made to Inheritance tax Relief that reduced this relief on the value of both...
Nov 12, 20249 min read
Japanese Chicken Sexers and their experience in World War 2 Britain
Many are aware of the World War 2 internment of Japanese in the USA due to the experience of George Takei and the play Allegiance. Few...
Nov 10, 20245 min read
The Rise of the Industrial Town of Spalding
When I describe Spalding as an industrial town people are generally surprised. We have an image of an industrial town being depicted as...
Nov 8, 20246 min read
Land Use, The Green Belt and the Abuse of Land Holdings
Every so often I share some writing that did not make the cut of Marsh Fen and Town. In this case I look at land use, how agricultural...
Sep 26, 202416 min read
From Marsh to Fen and Field - Albert Seaton
In 2007 my late father-in-law John Wright pulled some old farm diaries out of his shed to show me. He allowed me to borrow them and I...
Aug 16, 202423 min read
Sidebar – The Importance of Rare Breeds……. And their farmers.
The value of both rare breeds and those maintaining them is vastly underappreciated to the detriment of our food security.
Aug 15, 20244 min read
From Marsh to Fen and Field - Stuart Hay
“There is no habitat in Lincolnshire which can truly be described as natural unless it be the sandy and muddy foreshores of the coast....
Aug 9, 20247 min read
Marsh Fen and Town South Lincolnshire and Beyond
A society that divorces the needs of the environment, the economy and people should be of concern to all.
May 1, 20242 min read
Spalding's Butter Market
Down the side of Spalding's Civic Centre is a passageway called The Butter Market. Here is some of the history and the context in a...
Sep 16, 20237 min read
Farming for the Good Years.
I recently read a tweet that expressed the fear that every farmer feels this time of year: " Just totted up what we've spent on the...
Jul 28, 20234 min read
Overdraft Charges
Working capital requirements of most farming businesses rise each year. Here are some tips on funding.
Jun 28, 20235 min read
Wax On Wax Off
2023 saw me living in Amble Northumberland for the first time having moved from my native Lincolnshire. In February I started to work...
May 20, 20232 min read
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