Ruth Starr-Keddle has received 29 forms back and would like to thank all those who gave feedback.

Workshop Choices

Here are the rankings of the workshop choices:

1. Meadow management for wildlife
2. Rush control and drainage
3. Weed/pest control, i.e. rabbits, ragwort, thistles and creeping buttercup
4. Pasture management for wildlife
5. Woodland creation and management
6. Sheep farming, animal health and wellbeing
7. Keeping cows and animal husbandry
8. Setting up a vegetable business/market garden and selling produce

The North Pennines AONB Partnership has the funding to pay for two workshops per year for the next three years. This year, the North Pennines AONB Partnership would like to help to run on-farm workshops for the two top choices: ‘Meadow management for wildlife’ and ‘Rush control and drainage’.

A number of smallholders have said that these workshops could be held on their land. However, smallholders are needed to help with the organisation of these workshops, please contact Ruth if you are able to assist with the workshops: ruth@northpenninesaonb.org.uk.

Groups / Training

Here are the responses for potential groups/training:

Out of the 29 people who responded…

• 22 smallholders have said they would be interested in a ‘Practical working group, i.e. scything group or specialist skills group’.
• 21 smallholders have said they would be interested in a ‘Machinery ring and/or database of equipment to share’.
• 10 smallholders have said they would be interested in a ‘Flexigraze’ type system, i.e. sharing livestock’.
• 20 smallholders have said they would be interested in ‘On-farm wildflower training’.
• 23 smallholders have said they would be interested in ‘On-farm bumblebee/pollinator training’.

The North Pennines AONB Partnership will organise meetings to discuss and plan working groups to take forward the first three topics. The dates and times will be advertised soon.

The North Pennines AONB Partnership will consider organising on-farm training about wildflowers and bumblebees, in addition to the courses that are already offered through Wildwatch. The Wildwatch courses will be added to the Smallholder calendar in due course.

Ideas and Suggestions

Please do use the North Pennines Smallholders website to post ideas and suggestions in the forum. The website will be used to advertise meetings, events, workshops and training courses.