Event Category: Farm Walks

Farm Walk with Carbon Farmer of the Year Finalist, Thomas Gent – 23rd May 2024

We are delighted to be able to invite you to attend this Farm Walk to hear from the team at Oakley Farm about how they run their arable farm following regenerative agriculture principles.

Farming with greenhouse gas emissions in mind, as well as all the other targets farmers work to, is fast becoming the norm.

Oakley Farm in South Lincolnshire has been in the Gent family for four generations. Now with father and son team Edward and Thomas managing the 800 ha business, they run their arable farm following regenerative agriculture principles.

Having already fully adopted minimal cultivations and the incorporation of cover crops across the farm, the team are now turning their attention to the potential to incorporate agroforestry and livestock onto their holding. Through continuously refining the management system Edward and Thomas have managed to produce 10 tonne/ha wheat crops with 150kg N and 30 litres diesel per hectare.

Event details

Location to meet/congregate : https://maps.app.goo.gl/UhwiPfPmZQYmCD8i6

What3Word: ///crank.frantic.rules

The farm walk will begin at 1.30pm and will provide an opportunity to find out more about Edward and Thomas’s strategy to reduce emissions on the farm and how this has benefited the business, leading Thomas to be named as one of FCT’s finalists in our first Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition.

The event will take place outside, please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Light refreshments will be provided.

How to book

This event is free but spaces are limited. Please book via our Eventbrite page by following this link

Farm Walk with Carbon Farmer of the Year Finalist, Craig Livingstone, Lockerley Estate, Hampshire – 14th May 2024

We are delighted to be able to invite you to attend this Farm Walk to hear from the team at Lockerley Estate about how they are working to reduce farm-based emissions whilst storing more carbon into soils and non-crop biomass.

Increasingly farming with greenhouse gas emissions in mind, as well as all the other targets farmers work to, is becoming the norm.

Lockerley Estate & Preston Farms, based near Stockbridge in Hampshire is a 2,000ha diverse estate which champions an approach to agriculture where biodiversity, soil health and the wellbeing of the community and future generations is at the heart of everything they do.

Craig Livingstone, Director of Farming & Estates, has four key aims to enable the estate to reduce emissions which are focussed on maximising soil carbon sequestration; reducing reliance on chemical inputs; using the wider estate to sequester more carbon and increasing the natural capital on the estate.

Event details

The farm walk will begin at 1.30pm and will provide an opportunity to find out more about Craig’s strategy to reduce emissions from the estate and how this has benefited the business, leading him to be named as one of FCT’s finalists in our first Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition.

The event will take place outside, please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Light refreshments will be provided.

How to book

This event is free but spaces are limited. Please book via our Eventbrite page by following this link.

Farm Walk with Doug Christie – Carbon Farmer of the Year 2023

Doug Christie is the first winner of FCT’s new competition to celebrate farmers who are leading the way in adopting farming practices and developing new technologies to reduce farm emissions whilst optimising output.

Doug has a mixed farm with beef cattle and arable cropping and is organic for the grassland and livestock. He has been incorporating conservation agriculture practices increasingly since 1999 and was very much a pioneer of and advocate for climate friendly farming when it was far from fashionable. Doug initially focused on soil health and by doing this soon realised that it also provided a platform by which emission heavy inputs were reduced with a corresponding reduction in his carbon footprint while also enhancing natural capital services such as biodiversity, water quality, reduced diffuse pollution, water infiltration as well as overall farm resilience, a tall order while attempting to optimise sustainable output. Testament to this focus on biodiversity is that Doug ceased using insecticides over 20 years ago.

Event details

The farm walk will begin at 1pm and will provide an opportunity to see and hear how Doug’s strategy has benefitted his business and led him to win this year’s Carbon Farmer of the Year Competition.

The event will be signed from Leven. Additionally this is the what3words to aim for: saving punctual shape.

We will be walking around the farm, but can accommodate up to five people who require transport if necessary. We will be outside most of the afternoon, so please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Light refreshments will be provided.

How to book

This event if free but spaces are limited. Please book via our Eventbrite page by following this link.

Grazing and Pasture Management Demo Day & BBQ

A practical on-farm demonstration day on paddock grazing and pasture management with Niels Corfield, Pasture for Life and Farm Carbon Toolkit

Explore:

Farm walks, talks and discussions on pasture management, herbal leys, soil health and net zero farming with:

Includes a BBQ with grass-fed beef and locally-grown seasonal salads.

Open to anyone in the Northern Protected Landscapes, (for example Forest of Bowland, North Pennines, Nidderdale, Howardian Hills, Arnside and Silverdale, Solway Coast, Northumberland Coast and National Parks, including Lake District, North Yorkshire Moors, Northumberland and Yorkshire Dales), including farmers, graziers, farm managers, land agents, ecologists and farm advisers.

This is a social gathering for our growing community of regenerative farmers in Northern Protected Landscapes and a part of the Farming for Resilience workshop series.

To book:

Please head to the eventbrite page here.

About the Farming for Resilience workshop series:

Nidderdale AONB has been working with Niels since August 2022, and after the positive response from farmers and land managers, they have teamed up with the Nature Friendly Farming Network to offer more events throughout 2023 as part of their Farming for Resilience workshop series.

These workshops are designed to help farmers build resilience by improving soil health, reducing reliance on costly artificial inputs and adopting grazing systems through whole-farm planning for greater sustainability. We will explore the role soil biology plays in agricultural performance, pasture health and farm viability and what practices can be used to support healthy soils.

Niels will provide practical guidance on natural ecosystem processes and how farmers can work with these processes to improve farm system efficiency. He can also provide advice on a range of farming topics from equipment choice to slurry management.

Join the Nature Friendly Farming Network as a free member to be the first to hear of new dates in the series.

You can see the event flyer here.

Soil Farmer of the Year 2022 Farm Walk – David Miller, Winner Arable Farmer

David Miller hosts a farm walk demonstrating the system which led him being chosen as the 2022 Arable Soil Farmer of the Year

About this event:

Based in Hampshire, David is this year’s arable Soil Farmer of the Year. David designed an approach whereby he has drastically reduced fuel consumption, crop protection inputs and fertiliser across a diverse arable system. Through combining direct drilling with the use of strategic cover and companion cropping within the rotation, David has reduced his need for bagged fertilisers, with 25% less nitrogen used and no applied phosphate or potassium for 7 years. Instead David uses roots to harvest what is needed for the following crop. David focuses on creating a profitable arable enterprise through creating a more resilient system with the soil at its heart

The farm walk will begin at 14:00 (and last around 2-3hrs), and will provide an opportunity to further hear and see how David’s management strategy has resulted in vast emissions savings and benefits to the bottom line, leading him to be awarded the Arable Winner in this year’s Soil Farmer of the Year competition.

The event will take place outside and refreshments will be provided.

The Soil Farmer of the Year competition is run in partnership with Innovation for Agriculture and kindly sponsored by Hutchinsons and Cotswold Seeds

How to Book

To sign-up please complete the eventbrite form here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soil-farmer-of-the-year-farm-walk-david-miller-winner-arable-farmer-tickets-379650132767

If you have any problems, questions or queries please contact Emma Adams ([email protected])

Soil Farmer of the Year 2022 Farm Walk – Andrew Rees, Runner-Up

Andrew Rees hosts a farm walk demonstrating the system which led him to being chosen as the 2022 Soil Farmer of the Year Runner-up.

About this event

Based in Haverfordwest, Andrew is dedicated to maximising the potential of his soil to benefit the health and productivity of his dairy business. Through implementing rotational grazing systems alongside diversifying leys with herb rich species and legumes, Andrew has reduced fertiliser rates, improved herd performance and the resilience of his land.

The farm walk will begin at 14:30 (and last around 2-3hrs), and will provide an opportunity to further hear and see how Andrew’s management strategy has benefitted his livestock and business, leading him to be awarded the Runner-up title in this year’s Soil Farmer of the Year competition.

The event will take place outside and refreshments will be provided.

The Soil Farmer of the Year competition is run in partnership with Innovation for Agriculture and kindly sponsored by Hutchinsons and Cotswold Seeds

How to Book

To sign-up please complete the eventbrite form here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soil-farmer-of-the-year-farm-walk-andrew-rees-runner-up-tickets-379584987917

If you have any problems, questions or queries please contact Emma Adams ([email protected])

Field vegetables in rotation – best practices for soil health

The event will be hosted by Farm Net Zero Demonstration Farmer, Andrew Brewer.

Lunch will be provided.

This Lottery-funded Farm Net Zero event will integrate the ELMS Test and Trial project work of Jan Dinsdale (Cornwall Wildlife Trust), and perspectives from James Wimpress (Environment Agency) and Ashley Taylor (Duchy of Cornwall).

The field walk and discussion will cover:

  • Soil health and soil carbon in rotation with respect to Net Zero
  • The challenges and opportunities in growing field vegetables in a profitable rotation
  • Best practice rotations, including the integration of livestock
  • Future opportunities for increasing on farm sustainability

To book your place, contact Stefan Marks: [email protected].

Farm Walk: Unlock the Hidden Value of Your Soils

Unlock the hidden value of your soils and how they can work for you. Come along to this event to find out more about how soil management generates business benefits and can reduce costs. 

Soils are a fundamentally important part of our farms and are key to building resilience and profit.  At this farm event come along and dig deeper into soil assessments – focussing on:

  • how to test soils for carbon and soil health
  • how building carbon can help to build profits. 
  • how to reduce inputs on the farm without impacting on yield. 

When: Friday 28th January 2022, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Location: James Kittow Butcher and Grazier, Kilhallon Farm, PL24 2RL

(Refreshments and pasty lunch provided).

Please note, Westcountry Rivers Trust can offer free support though the StARR Project, including:

  • Free soil condition assessments including infiltration tests, worm counts and slake tests to look at aggregate stability in water
  • Free loan of soil compaction testing equipment
  • Free soil organic carbon testing
  • Advice on tree planting schemes with grant payments for planting and ongoing maintenance
  • Small capital grants available for on farm water management

How to book:

To book your place, please contact Becky Willson, [email protected] and Matt Healey: [email protected] / 07896993071.

Farm Net Zero: Farm Walk at Blable Farm

Date: Tuesday, 5th October

Time: 10am – 2pm

Location: what 3 words: zones.irony.flank / Blable Farm, St Issey, Wadebridge PL27 7RF

We have teamed up with the Robert’s family to address the potential of reaching carbon net zero on the beef and arable farm. Mike and his son Sam will lead a farm walk to showcase their high quality beef herd.

Further details about Blable Farm can be found here but key areas for discussion on the day will be:

  • Out wintering stock on diverse covers
  • Compost bedding
  • Bespoke herbal mixtures for high quality beef

To book yourself a place, and lunch, please register here.

Farm Walk with Soil Farmer of the Year runner up Anthony Pearce

Come to the farm walk to find out more about Anthony Pearce’s award winning soil management. 

Anthony farms in Buckinghamshire and is in the process of transitioning the farm to a regenerative approach. Focussing on building soil health by stacking enterprises, including diverse rotations and improving nutrient use efficiency were some of the reasons why Anthony has been recognised in this year’s competition.  The farm walk will start at 6.30 and provide a good opportunity to hear more about soil management on this farm.

The event will take place outside and refreshments will be provided.

Booking for this walk is essential – to book your place please contact Becky Willson at [email protected] or by phone / text at 07875 356611.

Venue: Moat Farm, Marsh Lane, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks, HP22 5UZ

Event date: Monday, July 12, 2021 – 18:30 to 20:45