Celebrating biodiversity in Northumberland with Barbour and The Barbour Foundation
All farms rely on the natural environment. That’s why, starting in autumn 2025, we delivered a series of four Biodiversity on your Farm workshops for 30 family farms across Northumberland. These workshops brought together local farming businesses to explore the benefits of thriving, biodiverse farms.
This work was made possible thanks to funding from our long-standing partners Barbour and The Barbour Foundation who have supported the work of the RCF since 2013 and have funded biodiversity workshops since 2024.
These latest workshops covered a wide range of topics, from the ways biodiversity can contribute to farm profitability, to the importance of biodiverse ecosystems in supporting a healthy ruminant microbiome, providing shade cover and strengthening soil resilience.
These themes were explored alongside the principles of regenerative agriculture, helping farmers consider practical ways to support both nature and the long-term resilience of their businesses.
As part of the programme, Barbour generously offered participating farmers the opportunity to win a waxed Bedale® jacket. To enter, farmers were invited to share examples of the work they had undertaken on their farms since attending the workshops to support wildlife and enhance biodiversity.
We received a large number of strong entries and the winner of this competition was beef and sheep farmer Carron Craighead, who has planted 4,700 new hedge whips and 80 in-field trees.
The silver birch, goat willow, hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn and alder that she has planted will create vital habitats for a whole range of species on her working farm, from insects and other invertebrates to small mammals and birds.
Carron Craighead, Northumberland farmer and competition winner, said:
“The workshops were very useful because we are thinking about Biodiversity Net Gain and all the wildlife we have on the farm. We are very keen on our curlews and lapwings and all the other red-listed birds.
“The Royal Countryside Fund and Barbour workshops were really good at bringing people forward, speaking openly and giving people encouragement and enthusiasm towards biodiversity.
“Barbour is the go-to brand for outdoor clothing and so I was very appreciative to win the waxed Bedale jacket.”
Keith Halstead, Chief Executive of The Royal Countryside Fund, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Barbour and The Barbour Foundation for their generous funding of this series of biodiversity workshops for family farms in Northumberland.
“Their support has not only enabled us to work with 30 farming businesses, but to encourage lasting action and give farmers the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to make a difference for biodiversity on their own farms.
“Carron’s story is a fantastic example of this in action. The planting of new hedge whips and trees demonstrates the practical steps farmers are taking to create more wildlife-friendly and resilient farmed landscapes.”
Dame Margaret Barbour, Chairman, said:
“Barbour has been a constant part of the farming landscape here in the North East of England for over 130 years. Farmers like Carron are custodians of our countryside playing a vital role in protecting and enhancing the biodiversity that makes our rural landscapes thrive. In partnership with The Royal Countryside Fund, we’re very proud to provide them with practical solutions that help farmers strengthen the natural environment and build greater resilience into their farms while supporting the long-term sustainability of their businesses.”
The competition provided an opportunity to celebrate the practical action being taken by farmers following the workshops, and Carron’s work is a powerful example of how biodiversity can become part of everyday farm management.
Find out more about how the RCF supports farmers to boost biodiversity here.