Be a FABulous Farmer!
FABulous Farmers is a European project supporting farmers in the transition to more agro-ecological practices on their farms. Soil Association are delivering activity in 3 UK pilot regions – South West England, West Midlands and Wales, with the National Trust leading activity in the East England.
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The project aims to reduce reliance on external inputs, like chemical fertilisers and pesticides, by encouraging the use of methods and interventions that increase the farm’s Functional AgroBiodiversity (FAB). These are targeted measures of biodiversity in and around the field to improve pollination, pest management, soil and water quality on the farmland.
We are delivering a programme of activity to support farmers in identifying and adopting relevant FAB-methods specific for their farm. These include demonstration events, networking activity and supporting and monitoring individual farmers adopting FAB-measures to enable the demonstration of measures to other farmers.
The FAB measures included are:
- Crop rotation
- Mixed crops
- Field edge/margin management
- Agroforestry
- Wood edge / hedgerows
- Input of organic matter and fertiliser quality
- Green covers / catch crops
- Non-turning (minimum) tillage
In addition to individual farmer support on the above practices we are focusing wider activity on specific FAB measures in certain areas:
Agroforestry
- Learning Networks in the South West England and Wales
- Contact us to signup to the Agroforestry Newsletter to find out about up coming events and updates
Catch up on webinars:
Growing trees from seed – a beginners guide
Watch our FABulous Agroforestry Film
Other resources about agroforestry:
Agroforestry and farm woodland e-learning
Agroforestry handbook
Herbal leys (mixed crops)
- Learning Network in the South West
- Contact us to sign up to email updates from the South West Herbal Leys Learning Network
Catch up on webinars:
Learnings from New Zealand – diverse forages and dynamic grazing management
Herbal Leys Virtual Field Day part 1 – Establishment and Management
Herbal Leys Virtual Field Day part 2 – Soil Health, Grazing and Ensiling
Read related articles:
Are multispecies swards a herbal remedy for livestock?
Why is sanfoin known as 'holy hay'?
Diverse forages and dynamic grazing management
Tips on establishing and managing herbal leys
Minimum tillage / Green covers / Catch crop
- A learning network is being established in the South West
- If you are interested in being part of this network contact us
In the UK the Soil Association is working alongside the Farm Carbon Toolkit (FCT); the National Trust and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH).
FABulous farmers is a Interreg North-West Europe funded project, the project is running in 14 pilot areas in 6 countries (BE, NL, LUX, FR, DE and UK).
To get involved contact us.
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