Prince of Wales visits North Yorkshire

The Prince of Wales has visited North Yorkshire.

Prince William visited hill farmers in the Yorkshire Dales and discussed the challenges they face in the industry. He met with Adum and Leanne Hunter, who run Crow Trees Farm. The industry has been hit by rising fuel costs. Adam said, “We are doing the farming, making beds and cleaning toilets, we are doing everything.”

Prince William sat down for coffee with the Hunters and brought along a box of cakes from a local shop.

Afterwards, Prince William said that he “understood the area and understood a lot more than you would think.”

Adam also invited his neighbours, Philip Metcalfe, 53, and his son James, 23, who run Usha Gap Farm, and Michael and Hannah Waggett, both 36, from Satron Farm. Prince William told the Metcalfes, “You clearly have a good relationship, not every generation I have seen has that.”

Adam said, “We are the cheapest park-keepers that the government can have. There’s no tourism here without farmers.”

Hannah Waggett later told reporters, “It felt like he was on our side.”

After his visit, Prince William headed to Bainbridge, where he took a look at a community project that generates electricity from a hydro plant. Tom Fairey, who is a director of the plant, told reporters afterwards: “He asked a lot of sensible and intuitive questions.”