Sharon Bowles, MEP, visits Mole Valley (Mole Valley Liberal Democrats)

Mole Valley Liberal Democrats <info@molevalleylibdems.org.uk>

Sharon Bowles, MEP, visits Mole Valley

June 27, 2010 12:00 AM

Hazel Watson & Sharon Bowles at Norbury Park Farm

Hazel Watson (left) & Sharon Bowles (2nd left) inspect the cheese-making processs at Norbury Park Farm

Sharon Bowles, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South East England joined local County Councillor Hazel Watson campaigning in Mole Valley at the end of June.

Sharon and Hazel visited first Norbury Park Farm to see "Norbury Blue" cheese being made with Michaela Edge and Neil Allam (pictured) and to discuss issues arising from farm diversification. Norbury Blue is a distinctive tasting gourmet cheese made on Norbury Park Farm. It is entirely hand made and is the only vegetarian blue cheese made in the South of England with milk from a closed herd 90 Friesian cows. After visiting the cheese factory, Sharon and Hazel toured Norbury Park Farm with Mick Frost and discussed the issues facing dairy farmers.

Second, Sharon Bowles and Hazel Watson joined Norbury Park Saw Mill manager Phil O'Donoghue at the saw mill's open day. They were given an informed guided tour of the sawmill and joinery workshop and saw demonstrations of sawmilling a tree, of timber seasoning, of making timber products and then discussed waste product uses. The visit finished with Sharon and Hazel looking at the furniture made at the sawmill and discussing its plans for the future.

Sharon Bowles commented, "I am delighted to have visited these two successful local businesses and to hear how both are planning for a successful future."

Next, they visited the Performing Arts Library at Denbies, saw the Vaughan Williams collection, and congratulated the Library for recently receiving an Excellence Award for Music Libraries from the International Association of Music Libraries. The award won aims to highlight and celebrate music libraries showing sustained good work and good practice with the potential to be adopted and adapted by others.

Sharon Bowles and Hazel Watson then completed their tour with a visit to the new accommodation blocks that are currently being completed at the High Ashurst Outdoor Centre and the facilities available for young people at the Centre. The Centre provides outdoor educational courses for schools and youth groups, disadvantaged youths, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and young parents on the Careering Ahead programme. The activities at the Centre are aimed at enhancing visitor's personal and social skills and giving them a greater appreciation of the values of the countryside. The Centre has had recent successes in helping youths who are currently not in education or training.

Sharon Bowles said, "These are two excellent facilities with an outstanding reputation which serve not only the local community but the wider region."