The Churnet Valley is a farmed landscape so its future depends on farmers.
We are investing in that future by creating apprenticeships on local farms. These will give young people the chance to learn practical agricultural skills.
The skills we cover range from how to check a sheep’s feet to how to handle machinery, maintain stone walls or lay a hedge. It’s a mix of traditional and contemporary – just like farming.
We work with the National Farmers Union to help farmers manage their impact on the environment – particularly in terms of water pollution. Our specialists look at a farm’s soils in detail, then work with the farmer on fertiliser plans to prevent run-off.