Does regenerative farming offer a sustainable future for farmers and for land?
The Royal Geographical Society’s North West Committee is bringing together a panel of experts to explore the role that regenerative approaches could play in the future of farming in Cumbria.
Facing the Future: Regenerative Farming in Cumbria combines a film showing and panel discussion to be hosted at Rheged near Penrith on Friday, November 10, at 6pm.
The film is an abridged screening of Thriving, a critically-acclaimed film that premiered at last year’s Kendal Mountain Festival. In it, horseback adventurer, Clare Dyson rides 150 miles across the Lake District, visiting several regenerative farms and exploring their work.
Building on ideas introduced in the film, a panel will then discuss their own experiences of and ambitions for regenerative farming, before addressing a range of questions from the audience.
The panel will include Nic Renison of Carbon Calling, Pete Leeson of the Woodland Trust, Caroline Grindrod, a regenerative agriculture consultant, Lake District National Park Authority Farming Officer, Jasmine Holliday, and South Cumbrian farmer, David Kelly.
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Harriet Fraser, a writer and environmental artist based near Kendal, will be chairing the discussion in her role as vice-chairman of the Society’s North West Committee.
She said: “We’ll be looking at what 'regenerative' means and what it looks like in practice, but it’s not just an event for farmers – we’re keen to attract those who enjoy the outdoors, those who value the area’s wildlife and those who want to see the Cumbria landscape contributing to natural diversity and environmental improvements.”
The event has been made possible through the support of the Lake District National Park Authority and Impact, a leadership development and learning company based in Windermere.
Tickets for this event can be booked online at www.rgs.org/events/autumn-2023/facing-the-future.
They cost £5.50 for Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) members and students and £7 for others, including tea and coffee.
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