Your Farming Future - Fordhall Farm Tour

Fordhall Farm Visit

Covid-19 Policy: We want to ensure everyone's safety given the current uncertainty around covid-19. The farm visit has been adapted so that time indoors is shortened and extra precautions are taken indoors incl. wearing face masks and social distancing. Attendees will be required to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test upon arrival.

The farm visit will involve some introductory presentations, a farm tour, and space for Q&A and discussion to explore key topics and challenges further.

This farm tour is organised as part of the Your Farming Future programme, a package of support offered by the Landworkers’ Alliance, Pasture Fed Livestock Association, and Organic Research centre under DEFRA’s Future Farming Resilience Fund. Check eligibility here and register for the programme here.

You must register with the Your Farming Future programme to attend the farm tour unless you are not eligible and are a member of PFLA or LWA.

Scroll down for more information on Your Farming Future and our introductory video.

Fordhall Farm

Fordhall Organic Farm is a 128 acre organic and pasture-fed certified farm based in North Shropshire. It operates a system of permanent outdoor grazing called 'Foggage Farming'. All breeding cattle (Angus and Hereford) and sheep remain outdoors throughout the year, making them completely pasture-fed.

The system relies on a diversity of grasses and herbs in their pastures - in fact over 70 different plant species have been recorded not including trees! This variety provides a healthy diet for their livestock and the tight root structure of the permanent pasture means livestock can be wintered outdoors without poaching the ground too badly.

Fordhall consists of both wetland meadows and sandy hills, this allows the livestock to be rotated around the farm throughout the year; grazing the wetlands during the drier summer months and moving up to the sandy hills near the farm for the wetter winter months. Fertility is maintained in the soil through the encouragement of soil biology, animal manures and careful rotation of the livestock.

Everything is sold direct to the public from the farm shop onsite, online shop or event catering trailers. Direct sales form a critical part of the farming system.

Fordhall is also in community ownership, after Ben and Charlotte fought to save their tenanted farm from development in 2006. Now owned by over 8,000 community shareholders the farm is leading the way for a new way of connecting communities and farming.

A number of community activities are run from the site including a care farm, youth project, school visits, open public access, glamping, weddings and volunteering.

Farm Tour will focus on

• year round outdoor grazing (Foggage Farming)
• use of native breeds, biodiversity and topography in creating the system
• selling direct to the public and managing supplies
• organic beef/lamb
• community involvement and public engagement

Find out more about Fordhall Farm on their website.

Plan for the day

11:00 - 11:30 Arrivals and Introductions

11:30 - 12:30 Farm Tour

13:30 - 14:00 Lunch [Lunch will be provided]

14:00 - 15:30 Q&A and Farmer to farmer discussions and problem-solving

15:30 - 16:00 Closing and Feedback

Food and drink: Refreshments and lunch will be provided by the farm.

Covid-19 Policy: You must provide proof of a negative lateral flow test on arrival (logged on the covid passport, the physical test, or a photo). We will send out further advice to registered attendees.

Your Farming Future

This farm tour is organised as part of the Your Farming Future programme, a package of support offered by the Landworkers’ Alliance, Pasture Fed Livestock Association, and Organic Research centre under DEFRA’s Future Farming Resilience Fund.

• Need help understanding the payments replacing BPS?
• Do you want to reduce your input costs?
• Are you looking to sell direct or shorten your supply chains?
• Want to improve your soil quality?
• Interested in moving towards an organic system?

This free support is available to help farmers in England transition to the new Environmental Land Management schemes and build an economically and environmentally sustainable future for your farm. The support programme also involves interactive farmer-led webinars, one-to-one consultancy, peer to peer support networks, and a transition toolkit.

If you haven’t already signed up you can find out more information here and register here. The event is also open to all LWA members and PFLA members though we suggest that you register with the programme first if you meet the eligibility criteria.

If you have signed up to receive Your Farming Future support and would like to be contacted about the peer to peer groups then fill out this form.

We look forward to seeing you on the day!