Series of Sustainable Land Management workshops for local farmers

Joint press release from FWAG SouthWest, Mendip District Council, Mendip Hills AONB Service, Mendip Hills Facilitation Group, the National Farmers Union, Selwood Forest Facilitation Group, and Somerset Wildlife Trust

Farming and wildlife organisations team up to support farmers and other land managers to increase resilience and deliver what nature and people need for a sustainable future  

Partners from FWAG SouthWest, Mendip District Council, Mendip Hills AONB Service, Mendip Hills Facilitation Group, the National Farmers Union, Selwood Forest Facilitation Group, and Somerset Wildlife Trust have come together to offer a free programme of workshops on sustainable land management for farmers and land managers across Somerset, North Somerset, and beyond.

The workshops will aim to help farmers, land managers, and partners alike better understand the opportunities, different perspectives, and issues involved in a variety of approaches to sustainable land management. Key to this will be time at each workshop for discussion, with attendees encouraged to share their own experiences and ideas, and together begin to identify ways to bring about positive change across landholdings and landscapes in Somerset. 

The sessions will explore subjects such as Natural Capital, Natural Flood Management, soil health and herbal leys. Workshops will also look at the technologies, funding (including green financing and available grants), and support available to achieve farm business goals sustainably. Information will be provided by specialist speakers, including land managers with first-hand experience as well as relevant industry speakers such as those working in different areas of green financing. 

At a time of climate and ecological emergency, the way land is managed by farmers and other landowners/managers will play a substantial role in turning this around. This urgent need for change comes at a time when land, and land managers, are under multiple and substantial pressures on a local, national and global level. Sustainable land management for nature, people and climate will need support at all levels, with everyone having their role to play. 

Farm clusters in Somerset, including in Selwood Forest and the Mendip Hills, have already begun this process by sharing experience and exploring different approaches to help deliver benefits for nature, climate and people. 

All the workshops are free to attend and are offered at a variety of locations on-farm, in communities and online. Booking is essential, with the programme designed so that land managers can book onto as many or few workshops as they like. 

It is hoped that further sessions will be added to the programme as it progresses, particularly where land managers express an interest in a particular aspect of sustainable land management, so the partners ask that anyone interested keep an eye on the event programme for future events and get in touch if you have ideas on topics or speakers to share.  

For details on the programme including how to book your place(s) visit www.somersetwildlife.org/slm-workshops

A printed flyer is also available outlining all the key booking details, including how to book a place(s) by phone. Get in touch using the contact form to request a physical copy for yourself or a friend/neighbour.

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Our work is supported by various funding sources: Defra via the Mendip Hills Facilitation Fund, Selwood Forest Facilitation Fund and the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme; funding through the Mendip Wildlife Links project (via a section 106 agreement between Aggregate Industries and Somerset County Council), and Mendip District Council; and Somerset Rivers Authority.