The way we manage land plays a crucial role in tackling climate change. By scaling-up nature friendly faming, restoring peatlands, planting trees, and protecting habitats, we can store more carbon, boost biodiversity, and create a more resilient landscape. Supporting farmers, landowners and communities to make these changes is crucial in moving towards a sustainable Cumbria.
Discover practical knowledge, case studies, training and sign posting to help you understand more about what we need to do to reduce carbon emissions in Cumbria
Dive into the strategic priorities presented in the Emissions Reduction and Sequestration Action Plan below.
Read the latest blogs and news from the farming sector here
Sustainable farming methods protect soil, reduce emissions, and support wildlife. By adopting nature-friendly practices, farmers can produce food and help reduce carbon emissions.
Becky Wilson from Farm Carbon Toolkit covers carbon accounting challenges, soil health co-benefits, techniques for measuring soil carbon, other soil analysis and case studies/best practice. Watch webinar
Case study: A carbon audit kick started a Cumbrian farm’s journey to carbon reduction. Read more
Bill Grayson has gone through the process for 3 popular audit tools and presents the results in a case study here.
Case study: Cannerheugh Farm in the Eden Valley. The Renison family strive to ‘farm in abundance’, meaning to farm with breadth. Nurturing every aspect of the farm bringing bio diversity, and a more resilient self regulating eco system. Read more >>
Case study: Cartmel Fell, an upland farm with a herd of Belted Galloway and sheep. Read more >>
Case study: Strickley Farm, a 300-acre organic dairy farm near Kendal. Read more >>
Farm sector resilience plans were revised in December 2024 to clarify the areas where policy or industry support and investment are needed to unlock benefits for farming. The plans also highlight where farms can boost efficiency while improving the sustainability of food production. Read the plans
Delve into the world of regenerative agriculture. Listen to interviews with farmers who are changing how they farm to benefit their land, their community and themselves hosted by Cumbria based Nic Renison and Liz Genever. Go to podcasts
Chat 22 might be a good place to start with Russ Carrington talking about his time on the Knepp estate and develop a regenerative farm.
Home Grown Here is a co-operative of growers and veg box schemes aspiring to build a better food system for Cumbria. Read more
Carbon management for upland farmers. Read more.
Find out how and why various approaches are benefitting food, farming and the environment on the Nature Friendly Farming Network website.
Read about Alan Robinson, farming across three sites between Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
He’d like to develop his grazing management to reduce soil compaction, increase covers to build stock numbers and increase diversity and water infiltration.
Visit him on farm
Wednesday 24 June 2026
Peatlands are vital carbon stores, but damaged ones release emissions. Restoring and protecting them helps lock in carbon, improve biodiversity and prevent flooding.
Read about a few of the things people are doing:
Cumbria Peat Partnership are working hard to restore and reverse the years of damage to Cumbrian peatlands. In 23/24 471 hectares were restored by the partnership – Read more about their projects.
The North Pennines National Landscape team are working hard to restore peatlands. Here they highlight the key areas to consider when planning peatland restoration. Read more
Trees play an important role in the reduction of carbon emissions in Cumbria. Trees absorb carbon, boost biodiversity, and protect soil. Planting new trees and managing existing woodlands well, can help tackle climate change and support nature.
Read about a few of the things people are doing:
Raise is one of 15 Community Forests in the UK, covering 1800 square Cumbrian miles. Read more
Farmers, landowners, and communities need funding, advice, and collaboration to make these changes happen. Supporting them will speed up the transition to a greener, more sustainable landscape.
Read about a few of the things people are doing:
Land and Nature Skills Service (LANSS) are connecting people with learning and training opportunities in the land and nature based sectors. With over 400 courses to meet learner and employer needs in Cumbria. Find out more