A national countryside club is offering a space for people who have “aged out” of Young Farmers, but still want connection, community, and countryside-based fun.
Country Link, founded in 1985 and celebrating its 40th anniversary, recently held its Spring National Weekend, bringing together 76 members from across the UK for a packed programme of social activities.
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Members say the club offers a social lifeline, especially for those who have moved to rural areas, left Young Farmers, or are looking for new friendships and experiences in the countryside.
And the Spring National Weekend offered exactly that, kicking off on the Friday night with a buffet supper and disco, while a fancy dress competition themed around “Best hat/headwear” gave members a chance to showcase creativity and break the ice.
On Saturday and Sunday, attendees enjoyed day trips to Chatham Historic Dockyard – a former Royal Naval base where visitors can explore a submarine, a destroyer, and a naval sloop – and the historic city of Rochester, with guided tours and time to explore the castle and heritage sites.
© MAG/Albie Matthews
Janet Stacey from Exeter said she discovered Country Link after relocating to a rural area with her two young teenage boys.
“It was my way of finding out about the local area I had moved to, make friends and connect with the rural community.
“It’s a wonderful community. We have many dances and events, and visit many places across the UK, and it’s open to everyone, not just farmers.”
Making friends
Lesley Sheaf, who comes from an arable farming background in Worcestershire, said she discovered Country Link through Farmers Weekly.
“I joined initially as a way of making friends, as I had just moved to Hertfordshire from London. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
“I actually saw Country Link advertised in the Farmers Weekly when my father used to buy the magazine. I went along and loved it.
“I then took over the running of the Hertfordshire branch in the late 1980s and went on to help set up the Oxfordshire branch in 1992.”
Lesley also met her partner at a Country Link weekend in 1988.
© MAG/Albie Matthews
“Most people come to all of the events, so it’s always friendly and lovely to catch up with familiar faces. I have created really strong friendships and bonds through the groups.
“You can attend knowing you will have a good time and a break away from things.
“Country Link is really just a bunch of ‘old young farmers’, and it’s given us the space to have fun like we used to at Young Farmers events.”
An ‘original’
Chairman Dick Stephens, from a mixed farming background in Warwickshire, has been involved since the club’s early days.
“I was one of the originals. I joined in Warwickshire when it first began and then ended up at the Oxfordshire group.
“It has been a constant in my life for a while now. I met my first and second wife at Country Link events. It’s a real chance to meet people from the rural community.
“I used to go to all of the Young Farmers’ events. I aged out, and then I found Country Link.”
Isolation
For many, the group plays a vital role in maintaining social ties and avoiding isolation, particularly in farming communities.
Sally Nield, from a farming family in Oulton Heath, Staffordshire, said: “The friends I have made at Country Link, well, they keep me going really.
“Farming can be such an isolating profession. Even if you are retired, it’s imperative that you keep a link to the farming community, and this group allows you to do that.
“Sometimes the only social connection or trip off the farm that farmers get is to the auction mart, so this is a very special place for us.”
All about Country Link
Country Link was set up as a result of Letters to the Editor, sent to Farmers Weekly asking what was available socially when people were too old to remain members of Young Farmers.
It was sponsored by Farmers Weekly for the first few years, with booking forms for the National Weekends published in the magazine.
The organisation is open to anyone with an interest in the countryside, and has county-based groups around the UK.
The majority of members are over 26 years old, although it welcomes anyone, regardless of age or background.
Each local group sets its own calendar, with events ranging from walking, pub nights, theatre visits, and group meals.
Country Link operates in regions across the UK, including the West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, the South East, South West, and Scotland.
The group continues to serve as a bridge between rural life and lasting friendships, helping members stay connected to the countryside – and to one another.
To join a group near you, email contact@country-link.org.uk
