Land Stewardship Programme

Eight interactive sessions

Working directly with maps of your own farm throughout to create a practical blueprint tailored to your land, your business and your goals.

• 01
  Foundations & Principles

  We begin by asking the big question — where do we want to go? Change is difficult, farms are complex, and there are usually competing priorities. This session helps participants identify where they want to focus their time, energy and investment over the years ahead. We will also cover the principles of agroecological management, the baseline for the whole course.

  We'll explore short-term versus long-term decision making, and work through a values exercise to help you define your own farming 'why' — the foundation everything else is built on. You'll leave with a key terms reference guide to support the rest of the programme.

• 02
  The Living Soil

  Healthy soil is not just dirt, it's a complex, living ecosystem that drives everything above ground. This session goes beyond soil structure and chemistry, it takes you deep into the soil food web, exploring the roles of bacteria, fungi, earthworms and the thousands of organisms working in every handful of healthy soil.

  You'll learn how to conduct a soil visual evaluation on your own farm, and we'll look at many simple methods of measuring and monitoring soil health on your farm. You will leave with monitoring guides and templates to use at home.

• 03
  Nutrients

  Understanding nutrients is one of the most practical things a farmer can do. This session covers macro and micro nutrients in detail. You will learn their function in soil, plants and animals, and how to recognise the signs of deficiency before they become costly problems.

  Working with your own soil analysis results and maps, you'll develop a personalised nutrient plan and input budget for your farm, leaving with a clear picture of what your land needs and where you can save money. Includes a comprehensive nutrient guide book for future reference.

• 04
  Water & Landscape Design

  Water shapes every farm, whether it's pooling in gateways, running off yards, filling drains or supplying livestock. This session explores practical approaches to water management, identifying opportunities and issues.

  Using farm maps, participants will identify opportunities to improve water movement, reduce runoff, position troughs for rotational grazing, manage yard drainage and create features that benefit both the farm business and the wider environment.

• 05
  Plant Diversity & Cropping

  The plants growing in a field influence far more than yield alone. They affect forage quality, animal performance, nutrient cycling, soil structure and biodiversity. This session explores plant diversity, multi-species swards, alternative forage options and species selection for different farming objectives.

  Participants will learn how to identify common grassland species, assess existing swards and explore opportunities to improve forage quality and feed value. The resource pack includes a species identification guide and a template for designing bespoke seed mixtures. Farm maps will be used to create a practical reseeding and overseeding plan for each holding.

• 06
  Holistic Livestock Management

  Livestock, managed well, are one of the most powerful tools on your farm and central to any grass-based farming system. This session explores adaptive grazing systems, forage utilisation and how livestock can be used to improve pasture performance.

  This session explores how to use your livestock as active partners in improving your land. We'll cover dung scoring and forage assessment as practical monitoring tools, and you'll use your farm maps to develop a grazing plan alongside hay and silage management for your own farm.

• 07
  Trees on Farms

  Trees can provide practical solutions to many common farm challenges while delivering a range of additional benefits. This session explores how trees can be integrated into productive farming systems through approaches such as agroforestry, shelter belts, woodland creation and strategic planting in field corners and less productive areas

  Participants will explore how trees can contribute to livestock shelter, water management, biodiversity, soil health & protection, timber production and farm resilience without compromising agricultural output. Using farm maps, opportunities for tree planting will be identified and incorporated into a practical plan tailored to your context. The resource pack includes a tree identification guide and an introduction to agroforestry design principles.

• 08
  Planning for the Future

  Every farm needs a direction, but not every farm needs the same destination. This session focuses on setting priorities, identifying meaningful measures of success and creating a practical roadmap for the future. With so many measurements and benchmarks now available, participants will explore which metrics matter most for their own goals and how to avoid becoming overwhelmed by data.

  Using previous session work and farm maps, you will develop a personalised transition roadmap that identifies priorities, actions and milestones for the years ahead. The resource pack includes a personalised goal-setting worksheet, a guide to farm business monitoring and metrics, to support implementation and track progress over time.