It sure was a change of scenery, particularly in a farming sense, with much more arable cropland and much less livestock farming. Over the four days we covered a huge amount, with topics ranging from soil and water management to waste and pollution on farms, to Government policy and Agri-environment schemes, to farm clusters and landscape working, to the principles of regenerative agriculture. The January weather didn’t disappoint - each day was cold, wet and grey. But we were learning outside plenty, with walks to look at the different farmland habitats and to see some of the on the ground research at Allerton, including agroforestry projects and a moth trap as old as me! We also did habitat mapping and sniffed plenty of soil! By which I mean we dug soil pits to compare health and structure in the context of different management and habitats, like arable vs permanent pasture vs hedgerow.‑established research centre and farm - The Allerton Project. It sure was a change of scenery, particularly in a farming sense, with much more arable cropland and much less livestock farming. Over the four days we covered a huge amount, with topics ranging from soil and water management to waste and pollution on farms, to Government policy and Agri-environment schemes, to farm clusters and landscape working, to the principles of regenerative agriculture. The January weather didn’t disappoint - each day was cold, wet and grey. 

On arrival on the first day, on my approach to the visitor centre, I was reassured at the sight of recent hedge-laying by the side of the road. The week proceeded to affirm, for the most part, those initial good impressions, for on our farm walks were filled with long, wide buffer strips, beetle banks, flower-rich margins, farmland ponds, thick bushy hedgerows, tangled scrubby areas and new tree planting, alongside more laid hedges. I reflected on how little hedge-laying I seem to find in Northumberland and as I sat reading 'Hedgelands' by Christopher Hart in the pub one evening I thought of how much of an asset better hedgerow management could be in our landscape. The book also talked about the theory of potential 'ecological collapse' in 30 years due to declining invertebrate populations, which didn't make me feel quite as positive and lead to some passionate and somewhat emotional outbursts the following day when we were learning about and discussing pesticide use in farming. The week really brought home the scale and enormity of the challenges we’re facing - pollution, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss - to name a few. It's hard not to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, and I’ll admit my mind often jumps to the negatives.

What counterbalances this, and really did inspire me, were some of the people I met. There were farmers and practitioners from all backgrounds, passionate about what they do and clearly doing things for the right reasons, with impressive depth of knowledge. It's no surprise that I made friends with the one organic farmer on the course (though we were sitting next to each other). I found her particularly inspiring and wished I'd had the time to ask even more questions than I did. I was pleased get the chance to meet colleagues from other Wildlife Trusts too; a few of us are working on similar projects funded through the same programme, so it was incredibly valuable, and a pleasure, to meet them in person. Another high point were the lunches! Delicious, home-cooked and using produce from the farm every day.

On our final afternoon, before we all headed home to furiously revise the large amount of content for the not-too-far-away exam and viva discussion, the course leader held a for/against debate - on whether 'landscape scale action is the only way to deliver meaningful positive change in the countryside'. The two sides delivered many solid points of argument, and the discussion was thought-provoking, lively and, at times, a little emotional. We didn't get to choose though I argued in favour of the proposal - which I do believe in - for though I think although small scale action is invaluable, I worry that we are so far down a road now that only landscape scale change can bring about the level of nature restoration needed to heal our ecosystems and food production systems.

I left The Allerton Project with mixed emotions, but overall feeling cautiously hopeful. The week reminded me that there are many knowledgeable, motivated, and committed people out there, producing our food or trying to advise those that do and there is so much being done by many organisations to bring together farmers, conservationists, and land managers to be engaged, to learn, and to take action. I hope to take what I have learnt forward into my role at NWT and make a real difference. It'll be a few weeks before I find out my exam results - wish me luck that I pass!

Rosie