Eden Rivers Trust (ERT) recently held the inaugural AGM of their Fellside Facilitation Farmers’ Group which marked the first anniversary of the formation of the group.

The event kicked off with a soil aeration technique demonstration at Colstons Farm, Melmerby, where Andy Dyer from ERT showcased the conservation charity’s aerator and panbuster, which are available for hire free of charge by any farmer in the Eden catchment.This was followed by a visit to Rowley Estate’s Melmerby Hall for a talk on regenerative agriculture from Frontier Agriculture.

ERT’s Fellside Group facilitator, Anna Holliday, summarised the highlights of the last year, presented a plan for the coming year and offered members a chance to voice their preferences of topics to be explored in future events.

The aim of the group is to learn and implement good farming practices on farm to improve natural flood management, soil health, agroforestry/hedgerow installation and management, and nutrient and resource management, through attending events with guest speakers, demonstrations and farm walks.

The Fellside Facilitation Group is a group of farmers operating in one of the harshest climates in England, the West side of the North Pennines.