Hen doer

In the latest in her series throughout 2017 profiling inspirational women, KATE HASKELL talks to Jane Howorth

- Kate Haskell

THERE are many quotes, jokes and sayings about chickens but my favourite has to be: “I want to live in a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned!” Actually, I want to live in a world where a chicken can roam about, rather than be caged up in a confined, dark space and this is where this month’s Inspirational Woman comes in.

Jane Howorth MBE has spent most of her life campaigning tirelessly for better conditions for chickens and better labelling for the consumer - with considerable success. After watching the 1979 Panorama documentary Down On The Factory Farm, a 19-year-old Jane started writing letters to MPs and various institutions questioning the standards of welfare for chickens. It wasn’t until she moved to Devon in 1995, however, that she finally got the opportunity to do something about it.

Jane explains: “My husband suggested that now we lived in Devon and had more outside space I could actually get some chickens. So, me being me, I didn’t want just any chickens and I trawled the country lanes for a battery farm. I found one and it was typically very dark and smelly but the farmer was very helpful so I asked for a dozen of his chickens. Of course, when I came to collect them, I managed to lose count and came out with about 36!”