The largest ever bird flu outbreak in the UK, which hit farms across the country this winter, means free-range eggs will no longer be available in British supermarkets.
From Monday, March 21, eggs sold in supermarkets will have to carry a sticker or label saying they are ‘barn eggs’, due to them being produced by hens that permanently stay indoors.
It is a direct result of a large outbreak of avian flu last winter, described by government officials as the largest outbreak of bird flu ever, as more than 80 cases were reported across England.
Thousands of chickens were culled after a bird flu outbreak in Lincolnshire. | Photo: Open Cages
Birds reared for meat and eggs have been ordered to be kept indoors since November by the British government, and the length of time they have spent inside now means the produce cannot be referred to as free-range.
Lincolnshire was one of the worst affected regions in the country, and it resulted in thousands of farm chickens being culled, as per the rules surrounding birds exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
Harrowing video footage of chickens being culled at a farm in Alford, Lincolnshire was shared with The Lincolnite by animal welfare group Open Cages, with there now being fresh calls for the government to ban factory farming.
The housing order on birds has hit the farming industry hard, but with the warm weather coming it is expected the rules will be lifted in the coming weeks or months.
The prevention zones for avian influenza in Lincolnshire, with multiple areas highlighted for surveillance, destruction and protection in the county. | Photo: Animal & Plant Health Agency
At the time of reporting, there were more than a dozen control zones along the East coast of Lincolnshire, in areas such as North Somercotes, Grimsby, Alford and Mablethorpe.
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Villagers in Fiskerton remain cautious yet optimistic in the face of potential flooding, a month after they were advised to evacuate following a considerable amount of rainfall.
Several residents have continued to vigilantly monitor the River Witham’s water levels, prepared with sandbags outside their homes as a precaution after Storm Babet damaged two sections of the riverbank. But, despite the looming threat, there is a prevailing sense of confidence among the community, suggesting that further flooding is unlikely.
News that a £165,000 improvement project on the Handley Monument in Sleaford will commence early next year has been supported by local residents, who feel it is a much needed addition to the town centre, but it hasn’t come without its fair share of criticism.
North Kesteven District Council unveiled its plans for the historic Handley Monument in Sleaford, with a view to improving the surrounding area and also lighting up the monument to attract more attention to its role in the town’s history.
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