Interviewer Sian Green: So how do you feel that the public relates to you and how do you relate to the public? Do you feel you’re valued? Do you feel that people understand and appreciate what you do?
CHT: This is a bit of a cop out, but I'd say yes and no. I think a lot of people perceive that the land is theirs, and you know these dodgy farmers running around the place are really are farming it, but they have the right.
I think also farmers are very bad that basically get off my land type attitude. I think as long as people are responsible, (we've had problems with sheep being attacked by dogs and tourism and not picking up the mass after them litter and stuff like this). So I think as long as the public are there, I think we as farmers have to respond and be helpful to the locals coming out and show them the farm and explain the farm. We've been talking about doing open days and all the rest of it, we think we are getting money through grants and whatever that goes to so I think we have a duty to actually give something back too. So as far as I'm concerned, we've got about 3 or 4 bits on the farm that we can't do much in the two small farm machines and we've suggested to the Council, and to schools, maybe they want to adopt these plays and plant, you know, different crops and the school can look after it and plant little trees or bushes or whatever, but obviously growing trees around here is a bit of a nightmare as we know, with the wind and the salt. But I think those sort of things, I think we have both got a lot to do both the public and ourselves I think we're lucky and we're custodians of this, but I think people must respect as well that it is private property and then we're happy for people to come, but then don't take the mickey.