The Forest of Bowland Farmer Group has been developed by the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. It aims to act as a contact group for Farmers within the Forest of Bowland National Landscape to provide support and connectivity during the agricultural transition. We currently have funding to run the group until the end of March 2024, but would love to see the group continue past this point.
During this period, we plan to run four 'on-farm' events, a chance for you to listen to key speakers, discuss that topic, socialise and have a wander around the host's farm. We hope that these events will be informative, give you the chance to explore farming opportunities, and help to develop new friendships and contacts across the National Landscape.
Alongside these events, we will be sending quarterly e-newsletters and email updates which will include details of potential funding opportunities, local training courses and events, and of course our own Forest of Bowland Farmer Group events.
There is no charge for becoming a member. To sign up please click this link and complete your details.
Forest of Bowland Farmer Group Events
Our third meeting was held on Wednesday 15th November, kindly hosted by Amanda Bowater of Brackenhurst Farm Tosside and the Ribble Rivers Trust. The theme of the event was water, woodlands and natural flood management and was well attended with a variation of members to the previous meetings. The meeting began with a walk and talk led by Guy Mason from the Ribble Rivers Trust and farm host Amanda, where we looked at their leaky damn project which has been funded through FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes programme). We talked about brash bundling, the purpose of leaky damns and the impact of slowing the flow of water, bank erosion, willow planting and the delivery of the project itself. After the walk, we made our way to Tosside Community Hall for a lovely hot pie and peas dinner, followed by sponge and custard!
Afterwards, Heather and Kathryn from the Ribble Rivers Trust gave a presentation on all things water and woodlands, aswell as how they support farmers in their role - including pinpoint surveys, nutrient management plans, and providing help to farmers with applications for grant funding. Their presentation was very clear and informative and quite a few of the farmers stayed afterwards to chat to them and exchange contact details - these can be found on our contact list further down this page.
Join us for our next event (booking essential) -
'Farming and Working with Waders'
Monday 5th February 2024
11.00am start - 3.00pm (ish) finish
Lawkland Hall Farm / Eldroth Village Hall
Kindly hosted by Peter & Rona Webster of Lawkland Hall Farm with the RSPB and Tarja Wilson from the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) team, who have together been working on improving and monitoring habitat for waders. Lawkland Hall Farm is a mix of dairy, sheep and native breed beef cattle. We hope that this will be an interesting meeting, demonstrating how all farming styles can make space for wildlife.
The meeting will begin at 11am with a farm walk and talk, to look at and discuss the work done to date, and the impact this is having on the farm and breeding waders, overwintering waders and wildfowl.
After the walk, we will go to Eldroth Village Hall for a hot dinner. This will be followed by a presentation from Hilary McGuire and Philip Miller from the RSPB who will talk about farm wader surveys, rush management, wet features/re-wetting, nest protection equipment, grassland management options through grant schemes that will benefit waders and other wildlife, and how they can offer advice and support to farmers. Members from the FiPL team will be on hand to chat through support available through the FiPL programme.
To book your place email nichola.gill@lancashire.gov.uk or phone 01200 448 000
Quarterly e-newsletters
These newsletters have been sent to our members via email. Please click on the links to read them, and sign up to the group to receive them direct to your email address -
Useful Contacts for Farmers
Click here to view and download our helpful list of contacts within the local area who can offer advice on different aspects of farming. We hope this will prove useful and save you some time in trying to make contact with those you need! This will be updated as time goes on so do check back.
Let's support each other
We want the group to be informative and relevant, but also act as a means of developing new friendships, meeting new people and learning from each other. We will be developing a closed group Facebook page (a private page for members only) where farmers can ask relevant questions in order to get help and advice from each other, this will be managed by our group co-ordinator Nichola. More details to follow.
For more information please contact Nichola Gill on nichola.gill@lancashire.gov.uk or 01200 448000 (part time hours)