Country diary: Simple farming measures bring in the voles and nesting birds | Andrea Meanwell

Mungrisdale, Cumbria: The next generation of Lakes farmers, we hope, is learning about the benefits of hedgerows and fensIn this wet period, we are lucky to have a mostly dry evening for our farm walk at Low Beckside Farm, Mungrisdale. The walk is one of a series of events for people who want to be part of the next generation of farmers here. I have organised the event with the Farmer Network and the Lake District National Park Authority as part of my National Trust role as future farming partnership manager.As well as working on our family farm, both my son Hector and I have full-time jobs elsewhere, meaning our farm work must be done in the early mornings, evenings and weekends. There is a long tradition of farmers with a "side hustle"; looking back in census records I can see many of my ancestors also worked in mines as well as having a farm. Hector works for the Ernest Cook Trust, a charity that owns the farm and provides educational farming opportunities for people in Cumbria. Continue reading...