The morning after the government announced the end of its Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, Neil visited Cumbrian organic dairy farmer JAMES ROBINSON whose passion is nature friendly farming. His 300-acre Strickley Farm has been in the family since 1875, and it's been free from artificial fertilisers or pesticides for the last twenty years. In this episode he walks Neil around the farm to explain how his style of farming has evolved in this special landscape. 

Listen and you’ll hear: the history and layout of Strickley Farm (0m55s); James and Neil wade in the beck that runs through the farm (5m20s); James explains why he ‘re-wiggled’ this watercourse (8m37); hear how and why James created wetland areas on the farm (11m08); his role with the Nature Friendly Farming Network (14m50s); his journey of going organic (15m51); responding to the government’s decision to end its sustainable farming scheme (17m40s); the turning point in his approach to farming (20m55); his pond (24m30); meeting his shorthorn cattle (27m07).

This conversation was recorded on 13 March 2025.

Follow James on Instagram here

Visit his website here: strickleydairy.co.uk

Learn about the Nature Friendly Farming Network: nffn.org.uk

This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

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