Andi Chapple

This half-day workshop is aimed at public procurers and anyone interested in building more large-scale demand for agro-ecologically grown pulses being produced for human consumption in the North of England.

This workshop aims to:

• Build a fuller picture and shared understanding of a collective vision and objectives for pulses for human consumption in the North

• Identify and connect key people and organisations from different parts of the food system across the North who would be interested in becoming involved in the next steps of a collaboration around pulses

• Bring inspiration, ideas and advice based on what Hodmedods have achieved and a better understanding of how we can develop a future project together

We are interested in beginning the ground-work that could lead to a larger-scale feasibility and scoping study for developing a solid value chain collaboration around agro-ecologically grown pulses for human consumption in the North of England.

1 – 4.15pm (lunch provided)

This workshop is part of a series of events funded by Farming the Future and coordinated by a collaboration group which includes Northern Food and Farming (LESS (Lancaster District) CIC), North Lancashire FoodFutures, Hodmedod’s, Gaia Seed Sovereignty Programme, FoodWise Leeds, FeedLeeds Farm Group, University of Leeds, Organic Research Centre and Michael Marston. The group is also working with Feedback. 

The workshop is free to attend, but please make a donation to help cover the direct costs of the meeting if you are able to. Many thanks.

Follow the link below to join us:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernrealfarmingconference/1393164

University of Leeds (details tbc), Thursday 17 October 2024.

Harewood offers varied outdoor learning opportunities, such as school visits, apprenticeships, work placements and volunteering. They have developed and delivered a programme for school visits under a Countryside Stewardship agreement, which welcomed over 400 children to the Estate in the first six months. These sessions cover a range of topics such as biodiversity, renewable energy, regenerative approaches to farming, conservation and more.

During a tour of the Estate the Harewood team will share their learnings, including how to approach schools, developing relevant curriculum and the infrastructure needed for successful sessions.

The tour will be followed by lunch, featuring produce from Harewood, and then a discussion session to explore:

• Engaging with schools and providing relevant learning at different levels

• How can we create more opportunities for people to move into land-based jobs?

Follow the link below to join us:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernrealfarmingconference/1138546

10am – 3pm (lunch and refreshments provided)

The Hovels, Harewood Estate, LS17 9LF, near Leeds, Tuesday 26 March 2024.

Access to land for aspiring or experienced farmers can be a challenge. Land prices now outstrip the potential returns from small-scale farming so that fields which could be used for food production are often sold for housing, as an investment, for carbon off-setting or other more lucrative uses. This contributes to a widening gap between urban and rural areas, which is leaving whole communities disconnected from the land and dependent on an industrialised food system which is contributing to ill-health and climate breakdown.

But there is another way: throughout the UK many communities are finding creative ways to come together to protect our green, rural spaces for food growing and landscape recovery. Featuring case studies from successful projects, this one-day farm visit will:

• Explore case studies of getting land into community ownership, including Moss Lane farm’s work and strategy

• Include a tour of Moss Lane farm and the community businesses that share the land

• Be a chance to identify further actions to support greater land access for agroecological farming in the North of England

Follow the link below to join us and explore different ways to access land for food, farming and nature, including community ownership and land matching:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernrealfarmingconference/1138481

10.30am – 4pm (lunch provided)

Moss Lane Farm, M30 7RL, near Eccles (Salford), Thursday 21 March 2024.

Outline programme:

10.30 am Arrival/tea/coffee

10.45am Introductions and welcome

11.30am Context: the qualifications landscape and progress/challenges towards embedding agroecology in existing models

11.30pm Tour of Haigh Hall

1.00pm Lunch

1.45pm Co-designing a L2

3.15pm Collation of feedback on current system

3.30pm Wrap up and next steps/what more is needed in the North?

4pm Close