Images: above Saddlescombe Farm, R. Puzey. Below Chalk Farm, H.Brown
Free, farmer-led events and mentoring
Pasture and Profit in Protected Landscapes is a free, farmer-led programme of knowledge exchange through farm walks, events, mentoring and training opportunities. It’s open to everyone farming or grazing in the South Downs National Park.
For upcoming events see our EVENTBRITE PAGE HERE
SIGN UP HERE to access these ongoing events and funding for knowledge exchange, mentoring and training opportunities.
Feel free to contact Project Manager Ali Laws with any questions by emailing ali@pastureforlife.org
Read further for more information about the opportunities this programme offers.
Building resilience
Farmers in the Pasture and Profit programmes are sharing how adapting their grazing practices are helping to achieve:
•Improved pasture, soil health and landscape management
•Mitigation of the effects of extreme weather
•Reduction in inputs, workload and cost associated with indoor housing
•Reduced worm burden on stock
•Increased biodiversity
Applicable to mixed livestock enterprises, arable farmers interested in integrating livestock and graziers. The programme is running from March 2023-March 2025.
Reaching out
At the moment, the economic viability of farming is under strain, soil health and biodiversity are depleted and the farming lifestyle can be hard to uphold when isolated from community. In this challenging economic, environmental and social landscape, this programme of events offers the chance to reach out to other farmers to share ideas, challenges and approaches to improve the resilience of each unique farm business.
Alongside events the programme also offers flexible mentoring, access to courses and development opportunities, all fully funded and built according to each farmer’s specific needs and circumstances.
Events so far
The programme saw its first launch event at Saddlescombe Farm back in October 2023. Here is a list of some of the topics our events have covered since then to give you an idea of what the farmers have been discussing and sharing. These have been a mixture of in-person farm walks and discussion and online webinars.
- Bale Grazing and Outwintering
- Integrating livestock into your arable rotation
- Grazing Planning
- Soil health Series
- Thriving farm businesses and work/life balance – is it really possible?
- Enterprise strategy
- Managing cattle to deliver grassland restoration
- Soil Health Indicators and Soil Mentor
- Establishing and maintaining herbal leys
- Navigating funding options for grassland and livestock
The programme is being run by Pasture for Life, is funded by FIPL and supported by the South Downs National Park Authority.
SIGN UP HERE
To hear more about these opportunities email ali@pastureforlife.org.
See upcoming events via our EVENTBRITE PAGE HERE
Event images by Ali Laws. Top left: Park Farm. Top right: Chalk Farm. Bottom left: South Farm. Bottom right: Saddlescombe Farm