Last year, to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we launched a Hope farm webinar series. The aim was to share lessons that we had learnt on the farm over the last 20 years, incorporating our main mantra which is to share wildlife-friendly, sustainable farming practices that make sense for the farm business. It was fantastic to be joined by the experts that we learn from, and have a wonderful audience that seemed to also get a lot our of every evening. With that previous success, we are running a 2^nd webinar series this year, and thought you may be interested.  

For the Hope Farm’s 2^nd webinar series, we have drawn upon different expertise from the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Nature Friendly Farming Network, SUSTAIN, Leeds University, and the Woodland Trust alongside other pioneering farmers, and RSPB staff members who have been involved in the work that we do around farming.

 One webinar a month will run from January through to March, and are all free to attend.

 Each webinar will cover:

Carbon and nature Friendly Farming – 26^th January 6.30pm

Speakers across the carbon, agricultural and conservation sectors to ask the fundamental question: How can arable farming reduce its carbon footprint whilst working with nature?

Ross Morrison, UKCEH will talk about the carbon cycle and soil carbon in agricultural systems, providing a baseline of understanding for how we can contribute to net zero in arable agriculture
Megan Tresise, Leeds University will share the findings of her research on carbon tools and what the most important sources of carbon emissions are that we must target to reduce our footprint
Georgie Bray, RSPB Hope Farm will share the farm’s experience, adapting to a changing climate, whilst trying to reduce its carbon footprint, and working with nature for a long-term sustainable farming system.

All speakers will be joined for a panel session by the webinar’s chair, Sophie Mott, the RSPB’s Carbon Farming Project manager; Rob Field, Senior Conservation Science at the RSPB working on carbon and land use change.

Future ELMS and Future Nature Friendly Farming – 23^rd February 6.30pm

Speakers across the policy, agricultural and conservation sectors and ask the fundamental question: How can we farm profitably and sustainably in the future with the use of Environmental Land Management Schemes?

Vicki Heard, SUSTAIN, will share her thoughts on ELMs, and knowledge of where things are moving in the future realm of agricultural policy.
Andrew Holland, RSPB Conservation Advisor, will share his experience having farmed himself for many years and advised both on arable farmland, and wetland grassland habitats, for how opportunities in ELMs may increase the efficiency of farm businesses whilst delivering huge benefits for nature.

Nic Renison, Renison farm will share the experiences from their farm on the Welsh border, and journey to a more regenerative farming system – warts and all.

All speakers will be joined for a panel session by the webinar’s chair, Georgie Bray, Hope farm manager and Martin Lines, UK Nature Friendly Farming Network Chair.

Agroforestry for Nature, Carbon and Business – 16^th March 6.30pm

Speakers across the policy, agricultural and conservation sectors and ask the fundamental question: How can agroforestry work for the farm business, for nature, to store carbon, and improve the sustainability of agriculture

Jenny Taylor, from Lower Dairy farm on how silvo-pasture works on her livestock farm producing beef, pork, and eggs integrated with an 80+ year old walnut orchard.
Sophie Mott, RSPB Carbon Farming Project Manager, on Hope Farm’s delivery of agroforestry in an arable setting, and Hope farm’s trial on the impact of agroforestry on soil, economics and farmland biodiversity
Professor Steven Newman, is a seasoned agroforestry expert. The co-editor of the leading book on temperate agroforestry and publisher of over 70 papers on natural resources development, talking on the latest science and most interesting ideas evolving from agroforestry research
Tom Stanton, on his PhD research fresh from the University of Reading, looking at biodiversity implications of agroforestry. 

All speakers will be joined for a panel session by Helen Chesshire, the Woodland Trusts Lead Farming Advocate, and the webinar’s chair, Georgie Bray, RSPB Hope farm manager.

If you would like to join us for one or more of these webinars, then please follow the hyperlinks for each webinar (above), and sign up (Zoom hosted).

Please do share this with your advisors, farmers or others who you know and may be interested. We really want to create a diverse conversation in the virtual room of practitioners, advisors and researchers alike.