From improved soil knowledge to a new demonstration cow
Janet and Andrew, who farm with their family at Wood End Farm in Dunsop Bridge in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape were one of the first few farms to apply to the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme and their business has benefited in two ways.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
The Defra-funded Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme supports farming and land management activities in England’s Protected Landscapes that make improvements for nature, climate, people and place.
The innovative FiPL programme approach blends national, regional and local priorities and devolves decision making to local experts. It also fills gaps not met by other farming support available, especially for smaller landholders. Contributions to nature recovery and climate resilience, sustainable businesses, social wellbeing and community building, heritage conservation and better access for people to enjoy our nation’s landscapes all feature in programme delivery, coming together to make much more resilient rural places.
The Wood End Farm business has benefited in two ways from FiPL funding: the experience the Smalleys can give to visitors has greatly improved, and their understanding of soil health is deepened, giving them the tools and knowledge they need to be able to farm more regeneratively.
A brilliant learning experience for school children
FiPL funded 75% of the cost of new toilets, one of which is fully wheelchair accessible. The funding also supported the Wood End Farm team in buying a large plastic working cow!
Janet says: ‘We’d previously hired a demonstration cow we could take to events or use for school visits at the farm. The costs to hire were reasonable, but it was proving so useful for engaging people, especially those children that work best with tactile learning, that it was going to be much more cost effective to buy one ourselves. FiPL helped us to do that and it’s been in very regular use ever since. Children with neurodivergence especially love it.’
Local businesses supported the farm too, supplying waterproof coats and wellies for school visits so the children can enjoy their visit whatever the weather. Another business provided a large interactive screen to run farm classroom activities. FiPL part funded the addition of a new wall to an open fronted building to keep the new kit dry.
Janet and her sister Alison had also made a lot of short films for school visits. FiPL provided the funding to get this professionally edited. This means that the children have an idea of what to expect before visiting, which helps them prepare and enjoy their time on the farm much more.
Janet says: ‘FiPL has helped so much. We can see the benefits of having better kit on site. We now host 25 school visits per year. The children can just get stuck in, learn and have fun. Community engagement is so important to show people where their food comes from and demonstrate how local farmers are making a difference for nature too.’
FiPL funding helped to buy a demonstration cow
Diversification - helping other farms to help nature
On the farming business side, Andrew was able to get funding for herbal ley seeds through FiPL. Herbal leys are grasslands that provide food for pollinators, improve soil structure and fertility and capture more carbon from the atmosphere. The farm also successfully bid for funding for a Gutler tilling machine, used to sow the herbal ley seeds. Andrew is now able to take on contract work using the machine to sow herbal leys for other farmers, adding another income stream to keep the farm profitable.
Janet and Andrew want to move to a regenerative farming system with rotational grazing.
Janet said: ‘You can get the equipment you need for rotational grazing through other capital grants, but it is quite prescriptive, you have to use certain kits, not all of which you might need. I feel like with FiPL and local advisors based in the National Landscape team, they’ve got it right. They’re working with farmers to understand what we want. It makes far more sense.’
The new Guttler tilling machine has some fans
More to soil than meets the eye
The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme (FiPL) has supported a large-scale collaborative project, 'Pasture for Profit' run by PFLA, which is working with farmers and specialists across five Northern Protected Landscapes (Lake District National Park, Forest of Bowland National Landscape, North Pennines National Landscape, Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale National Landscape).
Farmers can get involved with this project in a range of ways, from receiving free, innovative mentoring to joining on-farm events and online webinars. Farmers can go as far as becoming Pasture for Life accredited which means that all the animals on their farm are grass fed, however anyone interested in farming more regeneratively and producing better quality food can benefit from the Pasture for Life learning.
Initially Janet and Andrew took part in soil sampling and since then have attended webinars and study tours, they also find the local Pasture for Life WhatsApp chat hugely useful with knowledgeable people ready to share useful information.
‘When you start to learn about soil,’ Janet says, ‘you just start to see how much more we could do. It’s a huge mindset change. We’re looking to reduce the amount of fertiliser we need to use on the farm and use rotation to create healthier soils.’
The farm also has a mentor through Pasture for Life, funded by FiPL.
‘Our mentor Alan has been brilliant. He answers questions really promptly and visits. The reassurance you get from someone who knows what they’re talking about giving you tips but also just confirming that you’re doing the right thing. When you’re running a business and making changes, you need that, it is a massive weight off at what could be a really stressful time.’
