Couple turn inherited Cockermouth farm into nature recovery site
The financial security was a major factor for Jessie and Joe in their decision. Environment Bank gives Greenbank Farm lease payments as well as paying the couple to help manage the land through the livestock grazing and hay cutting. “One of the main things for us is that it’s 30 years of guaranteed income,” Jessie…
The financial security was a major factor for Jessie and Joe in their decision.
Environment Bank gives Greenbank Farm lease payments as well as paying the couple to help manage the land through the livestock grazing and hay cutting.
“One of the main things for us is that it’s 30 years of guaranteed income,” Jessie said.
“With farming, you just never know what’s going to happen.
“If we solely rely on producing haylage, we could have a really bad year of rain like we did a few years ago – we produced rubbish haylage to be honest so we didn’t really make that much in terms of profit.
“It’s like a diversification project for us.”
Similar projects have faced opposition in the past and Jessie admits other farmers in the area were sceptical.
“We’re like the guinea pig of the area,” she said.
But Joe said he thought his late father-in-law would have been on board with the plan.
“Jim really loved nature,” Joe said.
“So it’s kind of like a bit of a nod to him as well, like it’s nice to do something with the land that he would approve of.”
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