Tues 3 Feb, 4.25-5.35pm, online Join our farming advisor Karen Fisher at this event organised by Business Wales Farming Connect, aimed at growers considering organic conversion or those who want a clearer understanding of organic certification and on-farm practice. The webinar highlights the values, principles and wider benefits of organic horticulture, alongside an overview of the key organic management requirements and what conversion involves in practice.
Mindrum, Northumberland TD12 4QN Weds 11 Feb, 10am-3pm. Free, includes lunch and refreshments
Join us and farm manager Tom Fairfax for a farm walk looking at practical actions for soil health and insight into the transition to organic. This 1,150 acres farm, in the foothills of the Cheviots in Northumberland, produces organic lamb and beef and grows a diverse range of organic cereals. Over 50 hectares of woodland and semi-natural habitats provide a foundation for biodiversity and integrated land management. We'll also be joined by a vet, 2 local farmers and Farms Director for Newcastle University Farms.
Non chemical bracken management: animal health considerations
Weds 18 Feb, 1-2.20pm, online
Part of the Innovative Farmers Bracken Learning Network, this webinar focuses on the animal health considerations associated with non chemical bracken management. Our guest speaker is Alan Murphy BVMS DBR MSc (Applied Toxicology) MRCVS, Veterinary Lead for Toxicology and Chemical Feed and Food Safety within the Surveillance Intelligence Unit at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Where trees meet bees: agroforestry for pollinators
Tues 24 Feb, 7-8.15pm, online
Ben Raskin leads a dynamic panel of pollination experts who will explore why attracting pollinators is essential for thriving farms, uncover practical strategies to boost biodiversity, and reveal how agroforestry can unlock even greater benefits for your business and the environment. Ben is joined by Vicki Hird from the Wildlife Trust, farmer Mark Lea and Sarah Holdsworth from Bee Happy Plants.
Biochar: Taking British apple commercial production to Net Zero
Thurs 26 Feb, 1-2pm, online
Find out more about biochar as a solution to 'end of orchard life' wood and the lifecycle carbon analysis (LCA) of the crop production. Part of an Innovate UK-funded project.
IPM in action: from research to practice in horticultural crops
Thurs 12 March, 1-2.15pm, online
In a joint session with the Organic Growers Alliance (OGA), this webinar explores some of the latest research in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) grounded in a practical, implementable approach. Our speakers areSteven Jacobs (Co-ordinator, Organic Growers Alliance), Andy Dibben (Head Grower, Abbey Home Farm) and Professor Rosemary Collier from University of Warwick, chaired by our horticulture advisor Hugh Blogg.
A Positive Future for Farmed Animals (Beef cattle and Sheep) (November 2025) looked at our new Good Life Opportunity frameworks and how they support and advance an animal's quality of life. We discussed the principles of frameworks for Beef Cattle and Sheep, looking at potential ways to support and advance livestock quality of life.
Soil moisture in horticultural systems (October 2025) explored the benefits of using soil moisture probes to understand moisture uptake by plants and how to utilise the information for irrigation scheduling and crop management decisions. With John Taylor of Pollybell Farms, and Peter White from Soil Moisture Sense.
Building Sustainable Beef Systems webinar (August 2025): A practical session looking at organic cattle and opportunities to support organic beef production. With Angus Nelless from Thistleyhaugh Farm, Peter Jones, Director of Organic Livestock Marketing Cooperative (OLMC), and Adrian Steele (Organic Sector Development Advisor), Annie Crook (Producer Certification Officer) and Tabitha Acton (Farming Advisor) from the Soil Association.
Exploring the value of the farm treescape through whole farm tree planning (April 2025) looked at the value of treescapes in farming practices, sharing results from our Whole Farm Tree Plan project. As well as learning insights from the project, funded via the Forestry Commission, the webinar looked at the tree assessment process and how it shaped the future plan of one of the project farmers.
The agronomy of intercropping (March 2025): One of the key barrier to the uptake of intercropping is a lack of knowledge about its agronomy, specifically around weed and pest control but also species selection and seeding ratios. This webinar looks at the findings from a recent field lab, part of the Leguminose project.
Agroecology-TRANSECT:
Cultivating Change – building policy from the ground up(November 2025) brings together key policy experts, researchers and innovation hub leads to co-create a shared vision of our food and farming sector that is rooted in resilience and ecological integrity.
