²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Sustainable Food Trust policy director and Cotswold's farmer Richard Young dies

Patrick Holden, chief executive of Sustainable Food Trust, said Richard Young died on Saturday morning (September 16)

clock • 2 min read
Richard Young was best known for playing a 'pivotal role' in the organic and sustainable farming movement (Sustainable Food Trust)
Image:

Richard Young was best known for playing a 'pivotal role' in the organic and sustainable farming movement (Sustainable Food Trust)

A farmer who played a ‘pivotal role' in the emergence of the organic and sustainable farm movement has passed away.

Richard Young, policy director for the Sustainable Food Trust, died on Saturday morning (September 16) at his home near Broadway in the Cotswolds.

Born in 1950, Mr Young was also an organic farmer on Kite's Nest Farm, a 390-acre farm, which he operated alongside his sister Rosamund.

Patrick Holden, chief executive of Sustainable Food Trust and friend to Mr Young for more than 40 years, said he was in a state of ‘slight disbelief' to learn of his passing after a telephone conversation with him the day before as he paid tribute to him.

"It would be impossible to overstate the contribution that Richard made, not only to these organisations but to the understanding of the relationship between farming practices, food quality and health, both in terms of the science and the general public," Mr Holden added.

"On a personal note, was one of the kindest and most open human beings one could ever meet.

Mr Young had worked to advance organic and sustainable farming (Sustainable Food Trust)

"Towards the end of his life, he was happy in his skin and always generous and interested in everything that happened to the people he encountered.

"I know I am speaking for probably hundreds of people in stating that I count myself lucky indeed to have known him, to have counted him as a friend and who have had the enormous privilege of working with him as part of the wider organic and sustainable food and agriculture movement of which we were both a part."

See also: BBC's One Man and His Dog presenter Robin Page dies from prostate cancer

Mr Holden said his friend had even left an ‘enduring influence' on the King, then Prince of Wales, who visited Kite's Nest Farm in 1989 after the conversion of the Highgrove Estate.

Gorsehill Abbey Farm they were ‘deeply saddened' by Mr Young's death who had become a ‘valued friend and customer' and who had left behind a ‘great legacy' within the organic and sustainable farming movement.

See also: Former TFA national chair Jeremy Walker dies after incident on Somerset farm

2019 VALTRA T214V ST

£±Ê°¿´¡

2021 VALTRA G125EA

£±Ê°¿´¡

2022 MASSEY FERGUSON 8S.205 EFDE

£±Ê°¿´¡

More on Farm Life

Next Generation Hill ²ÝÁñÉçÇø: Welsh farmer takes business forward - "I am as hefted to the farm as my flock is"

Next Generation Hill ²ÝÁñÉçÇø: Welsh farmer takes business forward - "I am as hefted to the farm as my flock is"

In the second of a brand-new series, Next Generation Hill ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, Emily Ashworth speaks to Welsh farmer Katie Davies about her passion for keeping her family’s legacy alive

clock 22 November 2024 • 5 min read
Being prepared to adapt and change pays off for Cornish dairy farmer

Being prepared to adapt and change pays off for Cornish dairy farmer

Andrew Brewer was recently crowned Carbon Farmer of the Year by the Farm Carbon Toolkit

clock 21 November 2024 • 6 min read
²ÝÁñÉçÇø donate 6.7 tonnes of food providing 15,500 meals for London food bank

²ÝÁñÉçÇø donate 6.7 tonnes of food providing 15,500 meals for London food bank

²ÝÁñÉçÇø from across the UK turned out in their thousands to fight Labour's family farm tax, whilst donating vast amounts of British produce to a London food bank

clock 21 November 2024 • 1 min read