Future Farms
The Future Farms project aims to support family farms by encouraging families to consider ways in which the core farming business can be strengthened and complemented by new initiatives. This is achieved through “best practice visits” – visiting farms which have developed new or alternative ways of doing business and learning first hand about not only what worked well, but also challenges and mistakes encountered along the way – and through regular network meetings where training in good business practice is delivered in a tailored and responsive way to meet farmers’ needs.
Here are some of the ways in which participants in the project felt they benefited: · Feeling less isolated – coming together with like-minded people who face the same problems as you do · Having a renewed sense of optimism · Increased self confidence · Developing new skills · A chance to step outside the business, reflect and reassess · Accessing targeted one-to-one business advice Click here to see the End of Project Report of the most recent Future Farms project. 
Future Farms was launched in September 2006 and has been accessed by over 60 farm businesses in the Peak District. Funded by Leader + it has included visits to partner organisations in hill farming areas in Ireland, Cumbria and Northumberland, and also focussed on three particular areas of business opportunity: food, tourism and renewable energy.
