Dales Farming Group Receives £100,000 Lottery Funding for Environment
The Dales farming group has secured £100,000 in lottery funding to enhance local wildlife and habitats through various environmental initiatives
Dales, Lottery Funding, Environmental Initiatives, Wildlife Conservation, Farmers, UK
Richmond: A Dales farming group has just been awarded a whopping £100,000 from the lottery. This funding is all about boosting environmental efforts in the area.
With this cash, the group plans to kick off a bunch of projects aimed at protecting local wildlife. We’re talking about species like curlew, golden plover, and even Atlantic salmon. Pretty cool, right?
They’re also looking to fix up stone walls and hay barns, improve water quality, and tackle flooding issues. Over 130 farmers are keen to join in, which is fantastic news!
These farms cover a massive area, about 54,000 hectares, which is a big chunk of Swaledale and Wensleydale. This means they can really make a difference in restoring biodiversity and ensuring clean water.
Mark Willoughby, who chairs the group, expressed his excitement about the funding. He emphasized how crucial it is for farmers to balance environmental work with food production, especially with recent subsidy cuts.
He believes that working together as a cooperative will help farmers tap into new income sources while reducing risks. It’s all about teamwork!
Mark also mentioned that a conservation plan created by local farmers and land managers could be more effective than top-down approaches. They know the land and its needs best.
As part of their project, they’ll also be creating living history films to share the stories of local farmers. It’s a great way to celebrate their culture and heritage.
Linda Rukin, another farmer involved, encouraged others to join the cooperative. She highlighted the benefits of sharing resources and having a stronger voice in preserving their communities.
Once they have their conservation plan ready, they’ll seek funding for restoration projects through various channels, including public and private finance.
The cooperative is teaming up with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust to ensure everything runs smoothly and effectively.
Teresa Dent, the chief executive of GWCT, pointed out that this initiative is part of a larger movement to engage farmers in nature recovery. It’s all about working together to meet environmental goals while ensuring food security.