A warm welcome and opening remarks from Charles Le Maistre who farms the Regen Gathering host farm with his brother, Alan, and cousin, John.

Lunch and socialise

Diversifying into non-farming business ventures is now almost an essential for farmers who want to secure their financial survival.

Nibthwaite / Dogson Wood Farm in the Lake District has searched out different markets for its produce and developed new products and income streams to add value.

John Atkinson has spent over 40 years as a commercial farmer, and also has 25 years’ experience of working for the National Trust, and he currently sits on the Board of the Whitebred Shorthorn Association and The Federation of Cumbrian Commoners.

With his partner Maria Benjamin, John farms 450 acres in the Lake District, running rare and native breeds of cattle and sheep.

Maria runs ethical businesses utilising farm commodities from their farm, Including The Soap Dairy, utilising their Jersey cow milk, Lake District Tweed, using wool sourced from within the different Lake District valleys and The Wool Library, bringing farming closer to fashion.

Farm diversification has also allowed Rebecca Mayhew and her family to transform their 500 acres in South Norfolk from intensive farming to a regenerative oasis. Their diverse enterprises include a raw Jersey dairy, a suckler herd, sheep, pigs, goats, laying hens, and a farm shop, café, butchery, and vineyard. Holistic Management training has been crucial in both restoring the farm and managing their varied business, while also fostering community engagement on climate change, farming practices, and nutrient-dense food.