A second group of nature-friendly farmers in Northern Ireland have joined the Farming for Nature Ambassadors scheme, which celebrates those committed to a more sustainable future by integrating nature into their farming practices.
The trio, who join the half dozen Northern Irish farmers who formed the inaugural Ambassadors cohort last year, were officially introduced at the Fields Good regenerative farming festival at Glenarm in early September.
They are being recognised for their holistic, nature-friendly approach that supports nature and biodiversity, while ensuring sustainable food production.
The three new Farming for Nature Ambassadors are:
Kenny Brown, from Moneymore in Co. Derry – Kenny runs a 170-acre livestock farm and is involved in a project to reduce river pollution by directing dirty water from the farm through an underground trench into a swampy area planted with comfrey. The comfrey’s deep roots absorb nutrients from the soil, preventing them from entering the nearby river, and therefore improving water quality.
Bernard and Ciara Neeson, from Cookstown in Co. Tyrone – Bernard and Ciara own Creeve Cottage Farm, a family-run 30-acre smallholding. They grow crops in their no-dig market garden for a local veg box scheme and an honesty stall, while also raising hens and goats. The farm is pesticide-free and they are committed to producing food in as regenerative and sustainable a way as possible.
Roy Mayers, from Tempo in Co. Fermanagh – Roy, who is also an NFFN Farming Champion, manages a 180-acre beef and sheep farm, two-thirds of which is grassland. He has been farming in an environmentally-conscious way for the past two decades, with practices including planting hedgerows and using pastures with red clover and perennial ryegrass to maximise grazing, while minimising reliance on external feed and chemical fertilisers.
The Ambassadors join more than 80 farmers in the Republic of Ireland who are already part of the scheme.
At the Fields Good event, co-organised by NFFN NI steering group member Bronagh O’Kane, the new ambassadors were officially welcomed during a panel session attended by Daera minister Andrew Muir. They shared their experiences of producing high-quality, nutritious food while enhancing biodiversity.
NFFN NI Manager, Cormac Dolan, said, “These farmers are trailblazers for the future of farming in Northern Ireland. Their positive, solutions-driven mindset enables them to achieve impressive results for food production, biodiversity and the environment.”
The Ambassadors scheme is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, with support from the Burrenbeo Trust and The Farming For Nature Project. This year, the initiative received additional financial support from Danske Bank.