Our Farmer Clusters
Our Farmer Clusters are proactive groups of farmers who come together to farm with wildlife and climate change in mind.
To help protect and enhance the nature, landscape and heritage of the Chilterns, the Chilterns Conservation Board (CCB) works with farmers, landowners and land managers. We provide end-to-end support on everything from funding to practical management advice, monitoring wildlife to making new partnerships.
As part of this vital work, we encourage farmers and landowners to work together, form partnerships and aid nature’s recovery across boundaries. Conservation on this wider scale enables us to reinstate natural processes, such as water pathways and soil formation, and create stepping-stones for wildlife to move through the landscape in response to pressures. It also benefits us in lots of ways by providing natural resources, improving our health, and offering economic opportunities.
Lots of farmers and landowners already do great things for wildlife on their own patch, but we need to look further afield to aid nature’s recovery across the whole of the Chilterns. Our ‘Farmer Clusters’ support and encourage farmers to link their conservation efforts and to become more aware of the unique wildlife and habitats on their land and the land of their partners.
- For detailed advice on how to look after the habitats on your patch, visit our managing your land for nature page
- Find out more about how our farmland habitats are under threat
What is a ‘Farmer Cluster’?
A Farmer Cluster is a proactive group of farmers from a specific region who come together to farm with nature, wildlife and climate change in mind. They discuss important issues and support each other with regards to cross-farm conservation strategies and initiatives. They gain advice and help to deliver these projects from a variety of partners.
Working with these groups supports nature’s recovery across large areas of land; the Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster and Christmas Common Farmer Cluster between them cover an impressive 15,000 hectares of land within the Chilterns.
Our Farmer Clusters meet regularly to discuss and work on a variety of projects, such as:
- putting up bird and owl boxes to support key species;
- organising wildlife surveys to see which species are present to support sensitive management;
- planting hedgerows to support small mammals and birds;
- putting out supplementary feed for wild birds through the winter;
- dedicating field margins to the cultivation of wildflowers and chalk grassland to support pollinators and birds.
Dr Elaine King, Chief Executive Officer of the CCB, is keen to see this work expanded: “Scaling up this approach across the whole of the Chilterns AONB is central to delivering nature’s recovery. By providing a locally brokered approach, we can make sure that investment is targeted, and we achieve the landscape-scale connections that work for our farms and their wildlife.”
To find out more about our Farmer Clusters, or to join your local group, please contact us or visit Farmer Clusters.
Andrew Stubbings, part of our farmer cluster and supplementary feeding programme (Credit: Nick Middleton)
Christmas Common Farmer Cluster
We are a group of farmers located around the village of Christmas Common in Oxfordshire who form part of one of DEFRA’s 200 or so Facilitation Funded groups.
Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster
Our farmer cluster was started to support and encourage farmers to get involved in conservation and to become more aware of the unique wildlife and habitats on their land.
Chess Valley Farmer Cluster
Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or just starting out, the Chess Valley Farm Cluster is here to support you on your farming journey. We are dedicated to providing resources and support to farmers who prioritise water conservation and environmental stewardship.
North Chilterns Farmer Cluster
The brand-new cluster, which brings together 15 enthusiastic farmers from the Dunstable and Luton area, was funded through our Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.
Farmers supporting farmers in the Central Chilterns Cluster
Eighteen Buckinghamshire farmers formed a Farmer Cluster in the Central Chilterns. They have gone from strength to strength with understanding and supporting the wildlife on their farms, and reducing their farms’ carbon footprints. Achievements include planting more than 50,000 new hedgerow trees, carrying out farm carbon assessments, setting up cattle-grazing systems to improve chalk grassland, and undertaking wildlife surveys on all their farms. Find out more about the work of the Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster and be inspired to get started.
For more information on farmer clusters please contact
Harriet Bennett
Role: Landowner & Farming Engagement Adviser
Follow the Countryside Code
Farmland habitats under threat
Farmland wildlife
Don’t feed the kites!
