Farm diaries

January

The initial focus on Sarah’s Rutland farm has been all about functional landscapes and how good design starts with listening to the land (and the people who live on it).
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Armed with maps, we began teasing apart its priorities: trees, ponds, soils, water flows. Lines, layers and possibilities emerged. Joined by landscape architect Marian Boswall, alongside Sarah, and Sarah’s children, the conversation quickly moved beyond land use into something deeper, connection.
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We started where it matters most: the family's favourite places; a field corner, a view. From those loved spots, we worked outward, imagining how energy, ecology and intention could ripple back toward the house and farmstead.
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Ideas began to root. Native spinneys, or roundals, stitched into the central belt of the land would provide benefits for nature and the family. Tree planting schemes with purpose. The idea of a food forest started taking shape with the younger generation. An orchard and market garden nestled closer to home, where daily care and harvest feel natural and practical.
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We also explored the potential for Chirrup comparisons across Sarah’s three farm sites; a way to track, learn and tell the evolving story of these landscapes over time. 
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We recorded a podcast with Sarah in January; you can listen to the episode here. 

On Liz’s upland farm on the Lancashire fells, one priority we’re looking at is ticks, a growing challenge for both animal health and productivity in these increasingly wetter, rougher landscapes.
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To help Liz and Rob tackle it, we have brought together a small, focused group of specialists - the ‘Tick Taskforce’, with a shared aim: to better understand the tick challenge and find practical, farm-ready solutions. The group includes their farm vet, independent consultants, a sheep specialist, and a representative from United Utilities, reflecting the mix of livestock, land management and environmental interests that shape farming on the fells.
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The group is starting to build a clearer picture of what’s happening on the ground. A key focus is understanding current on-farm practices, particularly around building natural immunity in the flock and using treatments effectively and responsibly. The plan is to regroup to share findings and adapt approaches as understanding grows.
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Alongside this, the farm is also taking a deeper look at its overall performance and resilience. With support from the Forest of Bowland Farming Officer, data gathering is underway to carry out a Maximum Sustainable Output (MSO) review. This process is about finding that “sweet spot” where profitability is maximised by working within the natural capacity of the land.

On Alan’s farm in Cumbria, the focus has been on putting the right support in place as he strides out on his own chosen route for the business.
 

A Mentoring Group of fellow farmers has been brought together, with the aim of creating a practical, experience-led space where ideas can be tested, challenges talked through, and progress shared with people who understand the realities of farming day to day in a similar style and geographical location. 
 

Alongside this peer support, a Business Working Group has also been established to provide a more strategic sounding board. Made up of professionals from across the sector, including a bank advisor, and outside the farming industry. The group will offer a broader perspective on decision-making, helping Alan sense-check plans and consider the longer-term implications for the farm business.