The news is not very encouraging as the current plague sweeps the land. This Sunday it will be lower because of movement restrictions imposed by Foot and Mouth disease. One of our regulars rang to say a neighbouring farmer had been served a D form. The farmer's son had driven a lorry to an abattoir now confirmed as a source of foot and mouth and all his contacts were under observation. Exmoor is virtually shut down.
Footpaths are closed.
Youth groups booking the diocesan residential centre in Dulverton are postponing until it becomes possible to hike again on the moor. The monthly round of far-flung housebound communicants has had to be reduced to what is either safe for the farm or essential for the individual. The economics of sheep farming have been dire for some time. Last year it was possible for the sale price of sheep not to cover the cost of their transport to auction. Similarly, to have a sheep sheared might cost 70 or more pence, the sheared wool making 40 pence - with luck.