Thirty two people (22 male, 10 female) attended the Day 1 courses in Cumbria. Seven participants were from Natural England ranging from people with a national role to local project officers; 13 from the Lake District National Park working for their Environment and Heritage department or as Park Rangers; 4 from RSPB including a senior policy officer; 4 from Cumbria Wildlife Trust; 2 from the National Trust and 1 each from the Friends of the Lake District and the Woodland Trust.
All course participants were asked to fill in a course participant survey and 28 were returned (copy attached to this report). The majority (over 70%) had no background in agriculture. Only one person had direct experience of hill farming, two in dairy farming, one arable farming and five had some experience of small holding.
They were asked to self-assess their knowledge before the Day 1 course in various aspects of hill farming. The majority were confident in their knowledge about hill and upland ecology and general hill farming and land use; they were least confident in their knowledge about the economics of hill faming, food production and marketing.
All participants were asked to complete a feedback form and the feedback about the training had been hugely positive. The farmer trainers’ contribution was particularly highly evaluated.
For many the most important learning point was in the words of a delegate “really witnessing and appreciating how the stock is the number 1 priority of the farmer and how this governs their working life”
There were many positive comments – a small selection below:
• “I thought the day 1 training was spot on and doesn’t need to be improved. The day really flowed as a result of good chairing of discussions”
• “The whole issue of sheep breeding was a real eye opener and the price farmers are willing to pay for tups and even ewes to ensure they produce the best sheep.”
• “It also highlighted the importance of being more open about our aims and the evidence or assumptions behind them; giving more consideration to negative side effects of agri-environment schemes.”
• “The information will be relevant straight away and will inform all my day to day to day dealing with farmers.”
The project is funded by the Prince's Countryside Fund, Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE and the Duchy of Cornwall.
