We took printed copies of the outcomes from our recent community conference on river health in the Tyne and shared them with interested visitors to the fair.

A lot of people had already heard how successful it was which is encouraging. We also showed a film - the excellent 'Snow in July' film on climate change made by Film Able, part of Haltwhistle Film Project.
You can view the film here https://www.haltwhistlefp.co.uk/filmable

We learned about and connected with lots of interesting projects taking place in the Tyne Valley!

No Mow May

Provide a feast for pollinators, tackle pollution, reduce urban heat extremes and lock away atmospheric carbon below ground.

Join the movement: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/

Our project with Haltwhistle Town Council supports this initiative.
The first cut of the year on a stretch of the wide verge of Avenue St Meen will be delayed, giving any wildflowers time to set seed.

Later in the year management will aim to reduce the vigour of grasses and, in due course, we plan to introduce meadow species.

After the film another trio of young farmers, Matthew Tompkins from Hallsford Farm, Haggbeck, Alex Main from Bewcastle and Joseph Kidd from Langwathby contributed to a discussion about what they are doing on their holdings. (Richard Simpson from Eva's Organics, Low Luckens, was also asked and wanted to join but, having recently become a father, was a bit busy!).
I had to stop myself from butting in as I thought the emphasis from the film on young people ought to be allowed to endure! - particularly when the topic was constraints to change.

For me the constraints to change are/have been:

• Financial risk - changing things is always a risk. And we have a big mortgage and want to stay!
• Stewardship Agreement prescriptions and subsidy rules - some of the 'dos and don'ts' are at odds with regenerative practices. Requesting changes to an agreement can hold up any payment from the Rural Payment Agency for an inordinate amount of time.
• Wanting to be a 'good farmer'. 'Good farmers' have lots of animals, ewes which rear lots of lambs and get lots of money at the Mart.
• Being unsure of what is the 'right' thing to do. Plant trees, everyone says - except those who are concerned about curlews as trees provide perches from which predator birds can spot the eggs of ground nesting birds. And the academic debate on the merit of carbon locked up in trees versus that sequestered in soil under well managed grassland continues...

For many, taking over from parents and grandparents, it is being asked to undo the work that forebears have done. It's virtually impossible if they're still around and remains challenging even if they're long dead.
Now, it's right to block up drains on peat ground, drains that were painstakingly dug in an effort, lauded at the time of course, to improve the land and produce more food. As a first generation farmer here that, at least, is something I don't have to grapple with.

On 1st January this year we started a new Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Agreement and are in discussions with other land managers as to what a Landscape Recovery project for the Border Mires and riparian habitats of the Upper Irthing might require. Previously I felt I was farming within the constraints of my Environmental Stewardship Agreement, now I'm using livestock as a tool in managing the land for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and ecosystem services - the by-product is top quality meat!

Here we are at Carlisle Crown Court in January with placards reading 'Jurors you have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience'.
Trudi Warner, who inspired the campaign, has a Contempt of Court hearing, for holding such a poster, at the Royal Court of Justice on 18th April. Defend our Juries are organising a week of action during which they hope to stage sittings at every Crown Court in the country.
Unfortunately I won't be able to attend this time (lambing at home) but I hope our friends from Penrith will take the lead.
If you are able to join Defend our Juries will be pleased to provide information about anything planned at Carlisle, or Newcastle https://www.defendourjuries.org

Jo Aris will be running Sustainable Haltwhistle's Seed Swap at the Plant festival in the Swimming and Leisure Centre again this year.
There'll be an eclectic and intriguing selection, particularly veg, herbs and pollinator supporting flowers.
Home-saved and heritage varieties can be swapped (donations also welcome) but cannot be sold commercially.

Do say hello and share any ideas you might have for Sustainable Haltwhistle activities.