East Anglia: A big reminder of home

Essex County flag
Norfolk County flag
Suffolk County symbol
A heavyweight minimum-disturbance soil conditioner
Sugar beets about halfway through their growing period
An idea of the broad, flat landscapes of Norfolk
A Norfolk windmill, an old alternative energy source (not an original photo, I stole it)

It is sometimes reassuring to find a little bit of home in a distant part of the world. East Anglia, which is the regional name for the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, has any number of reminders of agriculture in New South Wales. Irrigators, shallow soil, moisture retention equipment and practices; all are mirrors of production markers at home. Another odd point is a plant known here as ragwort, a Senecio species with yellow daisy flowers, that causes liver poisoning in cattle and horses and responds to rain more quickly than pasture species and is capable of invading paddocks. Anyone smell our fireweed here?

Some areas receive as little as 20 inches (800 mLs) per year, and nowhere has received anywhere near average rainfall this year. Pastures are flagging for want of reasonable rain, silage making has been delayed and vegetable crops sit waiting for rain or irrigation. Three days this week have been above 27 degrees and not a cloud in sight. The farmers and horticulturalists I have spoken to enjoy the sunny days but dread the thought of what lies ahead. Rain is predicted for the next few days but who knows what might happen.

There have been a number of vineyards established in these eastern counties in the last 10 years or so, and I can approve of some of their product. Let us not get too far ahead in our global warming thoughts as I was reminded that the Romans (and what did they ever do for us , Reg?) produced wine as far north as Yorkshire back in the day. A horticulture teacher told me that their plants in identification classes have gradually changed to include some things that were only protected area (glasshouse) crops like button squash, which can now almost be grown outdoors albeit with some early frost protection.

This is also an area noted for the production of sugar beet and a large processing plant has been established in Norfolk. This plant has recently undergone modifications to capture almost all of the waste from the beets from anaerobic digestion for gas recovery and electricity production, and has developed a method of setting aside soil attached to the plants roots, previously wasted, for use in horticultural potting mixes. A plant originally derided for its wastefulness is now well up the efficiency ladder.

Summing up, East Anglia's agricultural struggles mirror those we understand in Australia. The green and pleasant land in one's mind's eye that we assume to be England is less obvious to me in this region. To balance the equation for any of my English blog readers, the drive from Needham Market through Hadliegh to Sudbury ranks with any other I have road route that I have undertaken on this or other visits to England. It is scenic and almost wistful, and I have been reminded that this part of England was the home and inspiration to many noted English artists including Constable and Gainsborough. I can also put the Anchor Inn at Nayland, Suffolk in the list of pubs to eat and drink in before you shuffle off. On the banks of the River Stour (so, only just in Suffolk) it has good food with beef, pork and lamb from the accompanying farm as well as the freshest of vegetables. Suffolk Punch horses and Suffolk sheep graze in the paddocks and you can walk among them between pints. The horses are a significant sight as the pub has a stylish wagon which was pulled by the horses at the Suffolk Show. Add this place to your list, and thank Brian and Janet King for an inspired choice of venue.