Regenerative Farming Practices: Knowledge-Sharing

One of the farming tenants on the Whitewell Estate in Lancashire held a very successful ‘Pasture for Life’ (PfL) event at the end of August. Janet Smalley is a passionate advocate for soil health and regenerative farming methodologies, and she and her husband Andrew are one year into the process of transforming their traditional farming business at Wood End Farm into a more sustainable and regenerative enterprise. Janet and her sister Alison grew up on the farm, which has been in the family since 1968. However, in 2021, after attending one of the Duchy of Lancaster’s soil workshops at Loddington, Janet was inspired by the idea of a new way of working and has been systematically introducing new methodologies ever since.

The PfL event attracted local farmers keen to explore ways of improving their ruminant livestock businesses, from exploring ways of increasing productivity to dealing with rising input costs through a greater reliance on natural processes. A farm walkabout immediately after the session allowed plenty of opportunity for further discussion and a frank exchange of views, ideas and experiences. Everyone who attended found Janet and Andrew’s honesty and openness regarding their experience to date and the practical implications of adapting to new practices both refreshing and informative.

Commenting on the event, Mark Coombs, Head of Rural Investment for the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for neighbours and friends to share information about sustainable farming methodologies and to learn from each other’s experience. We believe whole-heartedly that the future of farming and of food production in this country is dependent on the health and productivity of the land. This is the philosophy at the core of the Pastures for Life approach and we are actively encouraging tenants across our rural estates to attend similar events in their local farming communities.”

Wood End Farm is a 1,080- acre holding, where the family run a flock of 900 ewes and rear 200 calves. The Whitaker family have been tenants on the Whitewell Estate for over 100 years and Janet’s father, John Whitaker, took on the tenancy of Wood End Farm in 1968. In recent years, the family has introduced a rotational grazing system, bed and breakfast at the farmhouse and an alpaca walking experience. They are also keen to support educational initiatives and in 2022 hosted 20 school visits, with plans to increase this to 25 by the end of 2023.