Image courtesy of LandApp

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We are a group of farmers and landowners in the North East Cotswolds, who have got together with a bold plan.  Together we farm land stretching from the A40 in the South, northwards to Moreton-in-Marsh, and Eastwards to Chipping Norton and Woodstock.  To date, we have over 150 farms covering 42,000 hectares in our group; the initial 130 outlined in blue on the map.  Our world is changing, and we will be better prepared for ELMs if we work together.  Whether you want support making changes on your land, or you would like to work with your neighbours to build a better future, we would be delighted to welcome you to the Cluster.

 

If you would like to join us please sign up or call Tim, our facilitator, on 07795 668 817 and he will be in touch.  All we need is your SBI number and £1 per hectare per annum.  For this you will get multiple benefits and be part of a progressive group where all the latest ideas are discussed and (some) put into action, from the ground up. Raising funding is also key: to date we have received funding from several sources and acting together we will be better placed to secure more going forward.  We can really make things happen.  

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Our Vision

 

To lead landscape-scale regeneration of the farmed environment and local food networks in the North East Cotswolds through collaboration and knowledge exchange

 

Our Aims

 

 To grow into an inclusive and pro-active group of local farmers, growers, landowners, foresters and advisers who work and learn together to enhance the natural capital on their land, tackle the climate emergency and build more resilient food and farming businesses.

 

Objectives

 

1) Improve the health of our soils: building soil carbon, reducing inputs, minimising leaching, introducing more diverse and resilient cropping & more

 

2) Map, create, enhance and link priority habitats (with a focus on species rich grassland, wetland, ponds, watercourses, tree planting, field boundaries, key pollinator and bird habitats)

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3) Support entrepreneurial thinking and the growth of a local food economy investigating heritage grains, new horticulture, direct sales, dynamic procurement & more

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4) Make the most of future policy and access private investment and public funding opportunities: carbon markets, biodiversity net gain, public money for public goods, ELMS, transition funding, natural capital, offsetting, The Great Project (Gloucs) & more

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5) Evaluate progress and landscape/farm level outcomes and outputs: harmonise use of measurement, soil metrics, biodiversity surveys, benchmarking...

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6) Foster community engagement/outreach such as health, access, education 

 

We are not dictated solely by government policy; we work with other actors in the area such as Evenlode Catchment Partnership, FarmED, Heritage Wheat Group and will be engaging with many more like minded organisations