Helen from Anglezarke Beef and Lamb is the third generation of her family to farm at Manor House Farm, and has been farming for around 10 years.
West Pennine Moors Landscape Recovery Scheme | Helen, Farmer
Helen Drinkall, West Pennine Moors 2024 - Standby Productions
In the first of our spotlights on the people of the West Pennine Moors, we have Helen Drinkall, a farmer from Rivington.
Helen Drinkall, West Pennine Moors 2024 - Tom Cox, Standby Productions
Helen grew up on the farm, surrounded by the beauty of the West Pennine Moors, and recounts having a fantastic childhood, never wanting to go back to school after the summer holidays.
Despite the beauty surrounding her and her huge love for her work though, it's not an easy life being a farmer, and like many others, her farm is often in survival mode, doing all they can be to sustainable as a business and be guardians of the environment.
Without proper investment into agriculture, it's really difficult for farmers to have the capacity to farm with nature recovery in mind, which is why a Landscape Recovery Scheme is so important - ensuring environmental sustainability, financial sustainability, and food security.
"As long as we can make it work and we can plan for it, as a business it's worthwhile doing".
Watch the video below to learn more about Helen and her work, and check out our West Pennine Moors webpage for more information.
Helen West Pennine Moors LRS (https://youtu.be/Wc0gQE64mHw)
Helen Drinkall, West Pennine Moors Farmer, Standby Productions
We are working closely with landowners and farmers in the area to make sure that our plans for a Landscape Recovery Scheme is right for the people that live and work there.
As part of this we have two farm liaison officers, Sarah-Rose Rhodes and Kathryn Lightfoot who are talking and connecting with the farming community.
Sarah-Rose is a hill farmer herself, so really takes her conversations with farmers and the challenges they face to heart, but has hope that the Landscape Recovery Scheme will bring positive changes to farming, and nature's recovery,
"My hope for the outcome of this project is to encourage, diversify and restore wildlife & habitats while simultaneously providing financial rewards to our farmers for their contributions to this landscape restoration. Additionally also providing our farmers with a safety net for 20 years with the development of a ranger service and bespoke options to help alleviate their current challenges."