Wilderculture Basic Training for Landowners and Managers.

Wilderculture is a hybrid of rewilding and regenerative agriculture developed for the uplands of the UK.

Summary:

This exciting, dynamic and hands-on training course is perfect for upland farmers, landowners and managers who are interested in implementing rewilding or regenerative agriculture projects.

The course has been redesigned to temporarily replace our three-day onsite basic training during the ongoing pandemic. 

The training consists of a live online session led by Wilderculture’s lead trainer, Caroline Grindrod followed by access to a multimedia, interactive, self-led series of online modules.

The last section of the course is to attend an onsite day of training at the stunning Gowbarrow Hall Farm in the midst of the English Lake District. The day is led by Sam Beaumont who, along with his wife Claire, owns and runs Wilder Gowbarrow.

The onsite day at Wilder Gowbarrow is an opportunity to consolidate the online learning and bring to life the whole process in a real context on a project that is already well established. Learn from Sam about his own experiences and the up’s and down’s of the journey so far.

What you will gain.

You will take away a good understanding of the power and importance of regenerative agriculture and rewilding, the theory and practice of the approach we have developed for upland areas, as well as a specific toolkit of where and how to begin on your land.

Cost and itinerary:

Wilderculture Basic Training for Landowners and Managers: £350

Introductory webinar – 9th February.

Self-led training. 9th – 22nd February.

Onsite day – 25th February.

Onsite day 9 am – 5 pm. On booking, we will provide a kit list and additional information about location, itinerary, local accommodation and travel information. We will be running regular training dates throughout the year and if Covid restrictions interrupt plans the training can be rolled onto the next available farm day.

What is Wilderculture?

Wilderculture is a hybrid of regenerative agriculture and rewilding that has been developed for the uplands of the UK and Europe. We use a unique approach that is underpinned by the holistic management framework to help you develop a whole system redesign of your land management that is ecologically, economically and socially sound.

The course can be taken as a stand-alone training to give you a good understanding of how you can apply regenerative principles to your holding or can be followed by a bespoke Wilderculture support package where our team can help you develop and implement your project.

What we cover.

1. This course will help you achieve the shift in thinking required to better manage landscapes and their associated operations. You will learn how to take a systems thinking approach to managing your landscape.

2. We will cover how to assess the health of your land and what tools are available to you to increase its ecological, social and economic value.

3. We will help you explore the opportunities and limitations of your own situation and give you confidence and steps to create a holistic longterm plan for managing your site.

4. You will learn a decision-making process that helps you make sound choices to ensure you are moving towards your vision without it being derailed by unexpected social or economic setbacks.

5. You will be given unlimited access to the online course and its extensive resources as well as access to our dedicated online community of people who have attended the training.

7. Additional support in the form of consultancy, additional training and clinics will also be available following the course – this is only available to those who have completed the basic training.

Why do we need different management in the uplands?

In the UK uplands, there has been a significant loss of biodiversity and a call from some to reduce or remove livestock – especially sheep – and instead adopt rewilding on these less productive areas.

However, in the green and pleasant UK, environmentalists must be careful not to forget that the UK is part of the larger global ecosystem and what impacts the world will influence the long-term future of UK land. Major factors that are influencing world agriculture are;

· Global agricultural land is rapidly diminishing, increasing the reliance on moister climates to sustain a hungry global population.
· Globally we are losing 10 tons of soil for every ton of food produced with the FAO stating we have less than 60 global harvests left.
· Over 75% of the Earth’s land area is already degraded, and over 90% could become degraded by 2050.
· Globally, a total area half of the size of the European Union (4.18 million km²) is degraded annually, with Africa and Asia being the most affected.

Any large scale moves to remove upland areas from food production could have serious repercussions in the future for humanity as a whole.

Although the uplands are marginal in agricultural terms producing a small volume of calories and protein when compared to arable crops, the nutrient density of the meat produced is higher than any other food – a hugely important factor in creating truly sustainable nutrition security.

As we see an intensification of food production on our depleted arable land and a shift in diets towards nutrient-poor grain-based food, ensuring we have a sustainable supply of nutrient-rich healthy foods from land that is unsuitable for plant food production is essential.

How we graze and manage livestock however cannot continue as ‘business as usual’ with further soil and biodiversity loss. Regenerative farming has an impressive record for turning degraded land into healthy ecosystems that can also produce food over millions of acres globally, but applying this to uplands has its own unique complications.

Wilderculture is an application of holistic management in the uplands and is a hybrid of regenerative grazing, rewilding and wild game management that offers an exciting alternative to existing rewilding models.

If you have any questions please email Caroline on info@wilderculture.com.