Conservation charity the National Trust is looking for a manager to take forward its plans to secure a sustainable future for its Lake District farms at a time of unprecedented change.
The search is on for a skilled individual with a senior leadership role to manage a small team and a multi-million-pound budget.
Specifically, the post holder will lead work to deliver a significant capital programme, develop new financially sustainable business models for National Trust farms and invest in its farmers – the current and next generations. Central to the role and the programme are financially stable and viable farms.
The head of the National Trust in the Lakes, Jeremy Barlow, says the person will need to build on relationships with farm tenants and the wider community to tackle environmental, social and economic challenges. He lists key outcomes as the recovery of species and habitats and a landscape that is more robust in the face of climate change, all the while sustaining the globally significant attributes that make the Lake District a World Heritage Site – its upland farming practices and native breeds. Another key outcome is to support Trust tenants to develop successful and economically resilient farm businesses.
As Jeremy Barlow, head of operations for Cumbria and North Lancashire explained:
“The National Trust is committed to supporting the future of Lake District farming and the Herdwick breed in a way that meets the needs of us all – farmers, local communities, visitors and society.
“We are investing millions in our Lakes Future Farming Programme to secure a sustainable future for our farms, at a time of unprecedented change, and working with industry experts, partners and the farming community. This role is essential to the success of the programme,” added Jeremy.
The conservation charity has been associated with farming in the Lakes for over a century. In the last 18 months it has set up a Farming Advisory Panel of external experts, established a New Entrants Scheme and is in the process of reletting six farms.
The Trust owns 44,578 hectares of land in the Lake District, almost one fifth of all the land in its care and 42,500 hectares is used for agriculture. This includes 92 Trust farms, of which 54 are fell farms, and a landlord’s flock of over 21,000 mainly Herdwick sheep; and all sitting within a UNESCO World Heritage Site – which recognises the cultural tradition of farming – and attracts millions of visitors every year.
The closing date for the position of Future Farming Programme Manager is Saturday 5th October.
Anyone interested in finding out more should visit: https://www.ntjobs.org.uk/brochure/future_farming_programme_manager
