Balmalcolm

Balmalcolm
Village
Balmalcolm is located in Fife
Balmalcolm
Balmalcolm
Location within Fife
OS grid referenceNO 319 083
• Edinburgh22 mi (35 km)
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCUPAR
Postcode districtKY15
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°15′44″N 3°06′04″W / 56.2622°N 3.101°W / 56.2622; -3.101

Balmalcolm is a small village in the Kettle parish of Fife, Scotland. Encompassed by the low-lying Howe of Fife, the village is roughly 5+1⁄2 miles (9 km) southwest of Cupar, the nearest town, and around 22 miles (35 kilometres) north of Edinburgh.

History

The village first appeared on maps in the mid-eighteenth century and its naming was likely inspired by the name Ballingall, the name of the family which once owned the land on which it lies.[1]

Balmalcolm was the centre of some controversy in the late 1990s when a high level of nitrates were found in the local borehole, which was attributed to the intensive farming of the local area with green vegetables. The area was the first part of Scotland to be designated a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, and nine farms were required to follow an action programme in regards to their nitrate usage as a result.[2]56°15′44″N 3°06′04″W / 56.2622°N 3.101°W / 56.2622; -3.101

Economy

Surrounded by farms, vegetable packing business Kettle Produce chose Balmalcolm Farm as its headquarters and was founded by two farming families in 1985 after a partnership dating back to 1976.[3][4] The Balmalcolm facility is 11,500 square metres (0.0115 km2) and employs 1,000 staff from the local area, however the company have since expanded to the rest of the UK and into mainland Europe.[5]

Farm shop, cafe, and children's play experience Muddy Boots is a popular local attraction in Balmalcolm. Set on a farm owned by the same family for three generations, the business has its roots in the 1950s but has expanded substantially since then, especially in recent years.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Fife Place-name Data :: Balmalcolm". Fife place-name database from Glasgow University. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  2. ^ Buie, Elizabeth (27 January 1996). "Nine farms in fife nitrate vulnerable". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  3. ^ Argo, Andrew (8 February 2017). "Kettle Produce harvests more success in 40th anniversary year". Dundee Courier. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Learn About Our 40 Year Journey | Our History | Kettle Produce". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. ^ "About Us | We're Passionate About Our Food | Kettle Produce". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Muddy Boots Farm Shop, Cafe, and Kids Adventure Play". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
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