Pasture and Profit in Protected Landscapes is funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Fund (FiPL) and supports five Protected Landscapes in the North of England (Yorkshire Dales & Lake District National Parks, Nidderdale, Forest of Bowland and North Pennines National Landscapes), to run a free, innovative mentoring and events programme until March 2025 for farmers interested in nature friendly or regenerative farming practices.

About the programme

After successfully launching a similar project in South East England, Pasture for Life is delighted to have been awarded Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding from five areas in the North of England (Yorkshire Dales, Lake District National Parks, Nidderdale, Forest of Bowland and North Pennines National Landscapes) to run a free, innovative mentoring and events programme until March 2025 for farmers interested in nature friendly or regenerative farming practices.

Pasture for Life is now looking to support farmers in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District National Parks, Nidderdale, Forest of Bowland and North Pennines National Landscapes, who may be considering changing how they manage their ruminant livestock enterprises, from increasing grass productivity to dealing with rising input costs through a greater reliance on natural processes.

For farmers in these regions, there are three ways of getting involved and participating in the project:

1. Joining the overall programme for a comprehensive series of on-farm events & webinars across all five regions, covering a wide range of topics. These topics will be decided based on feedback from the project participants. Farmers will also benefit from a range of supporting documents to support change back on farm.
2. A unique opportunity for farmers within the programme to be allocated a trained, experienced farmer mentor, who will visit your farm and provide ongoing follow up support as you explore / implement new ways of managing your livestock enterprise(s).
3. If not already a member, free Pasture for Life membership (worth £120) and access to all the other opportunities to learn from farmers across the UK transitioning to lower input livestock practices, including a vibrant online forum.

It's important to highlight that farms don’t have to want to receive mentoring to be involved in the project. We encourage all farmers in these areas to sign up to the project to receive invites to and be able to attend the events and access the wider range of learning opportunities on offer.

By joining the project there is no expectation that you transition to 100% pasture fed and/or certify with Pasture for Life. Pasture for Life wants to support you at whatever stage in your farming journey you are at and irrespective of your long-term plans. Whether you are in the process of making changes to your grazing system or you just want to learn more before implementing change, we invite you to sign up.

How to join the programme

If you are interested in being part of this exciting project, please contact Project Managers Rob Bunn - rob@pastureforlife.org (07967 379131) or Amy Miller - amy@pastureforlife.org who will be pleased to share more detailed information with you or discuss further if you prefer.

 

Northern Dairy Shorthorn Cattle, enjoying the summer sunshine on Andrew Hattan's farm in Nidderdale, one of our mentors in the North

Hosting an Event or Becoming a Mentor

Do you have experience or expertise in something that you would like to share with our farmers? We are currently planning the educational events programme, and would love to hear from you if you are interested in speaking at an event or hosting a farm walk.

In terms of mentoring, we have now recruited our mentor cohort but we are still keen to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming a mentor, do please get in touch

FAQs

Can I join the programme if I am not based in the five National Parks and AONBs in the North of England?

It is part of the stipulation of the funding that those joining the programme of educational events, free PFL membership, and being mentored as part of the farmer mentoring programme must be based in one of these three areas. If you are based just outside one of these areas, please get in touch.

To be a mentor or a speaker at an event, you do not need to be based in one of these areas.

Can I join the programme if I am already a PfL member?

Yes, you are permitted to join the wider programme or be mentored if you are already a PfL member, however you are not able to receive the free PfL membership.

Do I have to become PfL certified if I join the programme?

No, there is no expectation to become PfL certified.

Do I have to renew my PfL membership at the end of the programme?

You will be given the opportunity to renew your membership at the end of the project (March 2025), however there is no obligation for you to do so. We do not take your bank details in order to sign you up for the free membership.

Find out more about how to be certified Pasture For Life by looking at our standards or view our upcoming events here.