51AVÊÓƵ

Pubs are fantastic places: friendly locals, patient bar staff, an ear to chew, tasty food and tastier drink; the good ones tend to have all of these elements.

Five years ago this week, the Beast from the East held its icy grip on farms across the country, sheep were buried alive under many feet of snow, the thawing of frozen pipes became a daily task and isolated communities were cut off for days on end.

Louise Penn, 24, Denton Northamptonshire Castle Ashby estate Agronomist and Farming Consultant

Two years ago, I saw a job advert that looked ideal and, although I had enough on my plate, it kept drawing me in.

Sophie Bell, young farmer and quality control analyst, aged 24, Cavan Ireland.

Ellie Browning, 21, is a Crop Input Specialist at Agrii in Kent.

Poor mental health and speaking about it remains a huge stigma for many people in the farming community.

It seems a long time since my last column, having written an early one to beat the Christmas deadline.

From mud pies to cowpat discus, I loved every second of being brought up in a farming setting and give all the credit for who I am today to those who surrounded me in the process.

I know for other parts of the country it’s practically summer, but here in the Scottish Borders spring is just around the corner at last.