MY husband, David, is probably the kindest farmer in Cheshire. He has the utmost patience helping newborn calves to suckle, checking through the night on baby lambs – and his greatest gift is when children visit.
He teaches them the gentle way of feeding with a bottle, allowing them to stroke the little chicks and feed the calves and cows with nuts and silage now that winter approaches. How horrified we were to read Cindy Ashworth’s letter in the Guardian, regarding her children’s unhappy visit to Apple Jacks.
There is a time and place to teach young children about animals and their life expectancy before becoming part of our food supply. 'Slaughterhouse at Apple Jacks' is neither, where, as stated in the letter, sounds of pigs being slaughtered were heard.
The children who visit us – Harry with his love of lambs, Matthew taking care of our cows, even Nancy and Grace our beloved dogs – have listened and learned over the years.
One boy, Dominic, was asked at Sunday school who was the Good Shepherd – he answered 'Uncle David'.
How sad that so many children will remember Apple Jacks for the wrong reason.
DEBORAH WEIR Hatton Gate Farm Hatton
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