They are a creative and competitive lot at Richmond Village Nantwich, and when tasked with entering an inter-village competition called ‘The English Countryside’, decided that if they couldn’t take the village to the country, the country would have to come to them!
After posting a request online for a real live cow, the owners of Halton Farms in Alsager responded by offering their champion cow, Midnight, who recently won her class at the Cheshire Show held in Tabley near Knutsford.
“Grace Pedley and Simon Broomhall from Halton Farms answered our request on Facebook, and the village residents were overwhelmed when they arrived with a real cow on competition day,” says Nicola Jackson, senior village adviser at the retirement village.
“The annual competition between Richmond’s villages around the country is quite fierce, and this year we wanted to do something different that would also mean a lot to our residents, many of whom have been involved with farming in the area with some owning large dairy herds.
"When we appealed for a ‘clean cow’ to visit us, we didn’t think we would get such a fantastic response, so we were all delighted when Halton Farms contacted us to offer one of theirs! It has been so special.”
Adds Nicola: “The competition involves everyone, residents, relatives, staff, volunteers and the local community – it’s a lot of work but results in so much laughter. Judging takes place at each village shortly, and while the winner receives a prize it’s more about the kudos of winning!”
Comments resident Patricia Cole who once had a farm: “It was wonderful to have a cow come to visit us. She was beautiful, and so well behaved.” Mrs Cathlyn Osborne who also previously ran a farm adds: “Midnight was much bigger than I remember; we used to have so many to milk twice a day although I was always happier driving one of our tractors!”
