Farming for Nature: 2022 Farm Walks
Farming for Nature has announced the return of its popular farm walks with its network of ambassadors for another season.
A spokesperson told That’s Farming that the farm walks are an “opportunity” for Farming for Nature farmers to showcase their contribution to nature and “good” farming practices on their land.
They explained: “They are a great opportunity to meet like-minded farmers and to gain an insight into the creative and inspiring ways that farmers are working to incorporate, protect and enhance nature on their land.”
There is a great diversity of ambassador farmers set to host farm walks this year covering a range of farming systems from tillage to dairy, forestry to market gardening, mixed stock to high nature value farming, from conservation agriculture to productive smallholdings, and much more.
Organisers have confirmed that a total of twenty-seven walks will take place across the country.
Farm walks
It has published a provisional farm walk schedule.
1. Boyd Bryce, sheep farmer from Donegal: May 15th at 2pm;
2. Mona Muller, a mixed farmer from Clare: May 21st at 11am;
3. Thomas Keane, a sheep farmer from Galway: May 22nd at 2pm;
4. Michael Hickey, a beef farmer from Tipperary: May 28th at 11am;
5. Andrew Bergin, a tillage famer from Kildare: May 29th at 11am;
June:
6. Anthony Mooney, a beef farmer from Kildare : June 4th at 11am ;
7. Kate Egan , horticulture , Westmeath: June 4th at 2pm ;
8. Louis McAuley, a tillage famer from Meath: June 8th at 2pm ;
9. Noel Kiernan, a beef and sheep farmer from Longford: June 9th at 2pm;
10. Fergal Anderson & Manu Russo, horticulture , Galway : June 11th at 11am;
11. Nicholas Redmond, a mixed farmer from Wexford: June 18th at 11am ;
12. Gerard Walshe, a beef farmer from Galway: Date: TBC
July
13. Kim and Mirielle McCall, mixed farmers (pedigree Aubracs), Co Kildare: July 2nd at 2pm.
14. Stephen Morrison, a beef farmer from Kildare: July 9th at 11am ;
15. Sean O’Farrell, a mixed farmer from Tipperary: July 16th at 11am;
16. Ailbhe Gerard farmer with bees, sheep and forestry in Tipperary: July 22nd at 2pm;
17. Norman & Michael Dunne, tillage farmers from Co Kildare : July 23rd, with Time TBC;
18. Cathal Mooney, a mixed farmer in Donegal: July 23rd at 11am ;
19. Ger Deegan, forestry & stock in Co Westmeath: July 30th at 2pm;
August:
20. Pat McKenna, a beef farmer from Co Monaghan: August 6th at 11am ;
21. Oliver Nagle, a beef farmer in Co Clare: August 13th at 11am;
22. Thomas and Claire O’Connor, horticulture in Co Kerry: August 20th, at 2pm
23. Gearoid Maher, a dairy from Limerick: August 27th at 11am ;
September:
24. Michael McManus, a beef farmer from Co Leitrim: Date: TBC September
25. Mimi and Owen Crawford, dairy & mixed stock in Co Tipperary: September 4th at 2pm
26. Olly Nolan, horticulture & mixed stock in Dublin: September 17th at 2pm;
27. Colm Gavin, a sheep farmer in Co Mayo: September 8th at 11am.
Lucy Bowler, programme officer with Farming for Nature, said:
Not-for-profit
“We are delighted to showcase the wide range of farming systems and land types in Ireland. We feel these farm walks are a great way to exchange ideas, experiences, and practical tips for farming alongside nature.”
“The walks are also a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand from farmers what works and what does not when it comes to supporting nature on farms.”
“The walks cost €10 to attend. This is a not-for-profit initiative, and all monies received will be circulated back into the farming community,” she concluded.
