FARMERS from the Yorkshire Dales ventured into Lancashire to discover how one farm is caring for nature – and people.

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), the local charity, arranged for the visit to Gazegill Organics Farm, near Clitheroe, through the Dales Farmers in Education project. The aim was to see the potential for using farms for educational and therapeutic purposes.

Gazegill has been farmed by the Robinson family for nearly 500 years. Today’s custodians, Emma Robinson and Ian O’Reilly, have a herd of Old English Shorthorn dairy cattle, Hampshire Down sheep, Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, traditional wildflower hay meadows, and a variety of ancient monuments.

A farm building has been converted into a learning resource centre for schools, youth groups and families, and a retired ranger has been employed to run young people’s activities on the farm, and two poly tunnels grow herbs and bulbs.

As a Care Farm and Farm Visit Centre, Gazegill also provides health, social and educational services for a range of people.

Owner Emma Robinson said: “We like people to take in the whole picture at Gazegill and spend time experiencing first-hand what we do on the farm and why we do it. As an approved Farm Visit Centre, we welcome over 250 school and group visits to the farm each year to learn about the environment, sustainable farming and the important role of the countryside in a healthy lifestyle.

"Twice a week we also have groups of adults with mental health and learning difficulties visiting to lend a hand with the animals, general maintenance, or growing herbs and other edible plants which are sold locally to help sustain the farm project. It’s incredibly rewarding and we were delighted to share some of our experiences with other farmers through this initiative.”

Judy Rogers, YDMT’s Dales Farmers in Education project officer, said: "The visit to Gazegill was truly inspirational. How Ian and Emma manage to run so many initiatives on the farm all at the same time is amazing. It is so exciting to see their passion for caring for the environment and people coming together by inviting people to share in the experience of the running of the farm.

"At present there are no Care Farms in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, so I hope that one or two of our Dales farmers will take away ideas from Gazegill and be inspired to start doing more great things on their own farms.”

The Dales Farmers in Education project has been made possible by a grant of £15,262.50 from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s (YDNP's) Sustainable Development Fund.

Andrea Burden, YDNPA sustainable development officer, said: “Farming is an intrinsic part of the National Park and farms are an amazing resource for learning, enjoyment and connecting with nature. This particular project will offer practical support to Dale’s farmers in providing educational access to farms and financial support to schools visiting them over a one-year period. The project will enable greater numbers of pupils and other members of the public to visit farms and learn more about hill farming in the Park.”

For details contact Judy Rogers on 015242 51002 or email judy.rogers@ydmt.org.