News

Lapwing © David Patrick

Farming & Forestry First Aid Course

27th January 2025

First Aid Poster image

Funded places made possible through our Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme.

Thursday 13th February

10am - 2pm (lunch provided)

Wood End Farm, Dunsop Bridge

BB7 3BE

The Forest of Bowland Farmers Group are part funding* 10 places for a 3-hour practical Farming & Forestry First Aid Course.

This short course, which is valid for 3 years, is designed to complement a First Aid at Work course - giving additional training to meet farmer and forester needs, and more importantly, to equip a student to save a life until professional help arrives.

Read more about the course here: Farming & Forestry First Aid Course

*A small financial contribution will be required

Limited spaces available, to be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

First Aid Poster image

Please contact laura.simpson2@lancashire.gov.uk to register your interest.

First aid training course

Outdoors opens up for trainees – marking National Apprenticeship Week

22nd January 2025

Two trainees are now forging careers based in the outdoors, as part of a scheme to promote nature, wellbeing and Outdoor Learning.

Theonitsa-and-Abbie

Connecting People and Nature (CPAN) is a three-year project based in Lancashire, and launched in 2023. It is being delivered jointly by education charity The Ernest Cook Trust with the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

The first trainee, Abbie Hampshire, spent a year on the project employed by The Ernest Cook Trust, and was so successful she has now gone on to a new role with Forest of Bowland National Landscape, as Community Engagement Officer for CPAN.

Her successor, Theonitsa Kindyni, is now working with the Trust on the CPAN project, and is already making great new connections and taking advantage of a wealth of training opportunities.

As the UK marks National Apprenticeship Week (February 10-16), the Connecting People and Nature partners are celebrating the success in helping Abbie and Theonitsa in their chosen careers.

Vicki McDermott, The Ernest Cook Trust’s Head of Learning, Operations and Partnerships (Cumbria & Lancashire), said: “It’s great to see Abbie’s career progression, through the trajectory of connecting people with nature. Her training, alongside the experience of working with the team, has enabled her to step into her new role, which is a great success. This in turn has opened up an opportunity for Theonitsa to join.”

Theo-at-Low-Beckside-Farm

Theonitsa’s role includes working with schools, helping to train teachers in how they can take their curriculum outside, and working with communities to arrange sessions around the needs of the people of the group, to get them outside.

She said: “I feel this role is very interactive, with lots of opportunities for me to explore different paths, and many people for me to talk to or shadow. I would really encourage people to go into an apprenticeship, especially those who want to explore an area they are passionate about but need some scaffolding to gain experience and deeper understanding of the options available to them.”

Abbie, who became a Forest School leader during her apprenticeship, said the traineeship had given her an opportunity to follow a passion for nature and explore a new career path.

“I feel very lucky that I was able to be part of a traineeship that allowed me to explore myself and learn new skills to further my career and development.”

Abbie and Theonitsa are just two in a long line of trainees and apprentices supported by The Ernest Cook Trust, which offers practical pathways into careers based in the outdoors and in Outdoor Learning.

For more information about Connecting People and Nature project, visit https://www.forestofbowland.com/connecting-people-nature.

Forest of Bowland National Landscape Among Six ‘Hub’ Locations Showcasing New Artistic Works in National Nature Calling Programme

15th January 2025

As part of the national arts programme, Nature Calling, the Forest of Bowland National Landscape are delighted to present new work by OneDa, a Manchester-based rapper and BBC 6 Music favourite. OneDa’s music blends hip-hop, drum and bass, afro-trap and afrobeats.

Image of OneDa - Nature Calling ArtistOneDa created her new work after visiting the Forest of Bowland and Pendle Hill to explore and experience this National Landscape. Additionally, OneDa conducted two creative writing workshops with members of the Pendle YES Hub. One participant, Saj, shared, “My favourite part about the workshops was meeting OneDa. She taught us how to make a song, which I enjoyed, and I learned a lot from them.”

Fresh from an exciting year in 2024, including multiple award wins and the release of her debut album ‘Formula OneDa’, OneDa’s ‘Connections’ rap brings to life her visits to the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. She says of the process:

“Creating Connections was a deeply immersive journey of exploration, reflection, and collaboration. The Forest of Bowland—vast, serene, and unfamiliar—became both a source of inspiration and a space for personal and creative transformation. This project wasn’t just about writing; it was about engaging with the land, its sounds, and the stories it holds to craft an experience that resonates beyond the written word.

A significant part of my process involved facilitating Hip-Hop and spoken word workshops with young people from surrounding areas. These sessions gave me valuable insight into their perspectives and experiences of Bowland, adding a rich layer of depth and authenticity to the piece. Their voices shaped the work, reminding me of the importance of community and collaboration in art.

As a Black artist, this process carried additional significance. Navigating spaces like Bowland—places often disconnected from the stories and histories I grew up with—challenged me to break down barriers, both external and internal. It became an opportunity to rewrite my relationship with nature and reflect on the ways these landscapes can serve as spaces for healing, discovery, and belonging.

Connections is an invitation. It asks listeners and readers alike to wander, to question, and to immerse themselves in the unknown. It’s about finding beauty beneath the surface, breaking boundaries, and allowing ourselves to truly connect—with nature, with others, and with ourselves.”

Alongside OneDa's work, the National Landscapes Association is today releasing new work by MOBO award winning Still Shadey from Croydon, Dorset based poet and author Louisa Adjoa Parker, up and coming poet Ayesha Chouglay and poet, educator and proud Lutonian, Lee Nelson. The work inspires and reflects on new feelings of connection to England’s most iconic places.

In 2025 Nature Calling, funded by the Arts Council and DEFRA, is bringing together the 34 National Landscapes in England, local arts organisations and community groups from within a 30-minute journey time of their nearby National Landscape in an ambitious new national arts programme. In the Forest of Bowland we are working collaboratively with Lancaster Arts and Blaze Arts to support our artists to co-create artworks inspired by these iconic places, and the results will be shared with the public in a Season of Art from May - October 2025, reaching an audience of tens of thousands.

John Watkins, Chief Executive of the National Landscapes Association said:

“I’m thrilled with the quality and range of written and spoken pieces we’re releasing today as part of the Nature Calling programme. The pieces are incredibly poignant, they are moving and meaningful and beautifully conjure up what the writers felt and thought whilst in a National Landscape. Our aim, through Nature Calling is to support people from all walks of life to find new ways to connect with their National Landscapes on their terms – either for the first or the thousandth time – to discover and share their unique connection. There is truly something for everyone amongst these pieces.”

Read and listen to 'Connections' here: https://youtu.be/gxe10MzSyPs

Visit www.naturecalling.org.uk and www.forestofbowland.com/nature-calling to find out more and to get involved.

Bowland Dark Skies Festival

13th January 2025

Enjoy a week of exciting events celebrating the beauty of the winter night skies above Bowland

Image by Robert InceOrganisers will be hoping for fine weather this coming half-term as the Forest of Bowland's seventh Dark Skies Festival approaches.

Starting on Monday 17th February and running through until Saturday 22nd, this year's festival highlights the fantastic starscapes above Bowland, finds out about some of the area's nocturnal inhabitants, discovers the international career of a local astronomer and offers a fun, family-friendly creative afternoon.

Event Highlights:

Discover the fascinating career of Preston-born astronomer, Frank Holden, on 17th February, with an online talk from Preston & District Astronomical Society. Frank's astronomical journey began at the age of ten, and his career took him from Lancashire to the United States and South Africa before returning to the UK.

Image by Keith Parkinson

18th February offers a chance to visit Frank's workplace of almost 20 years – the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory, based in Moor Park in Preston. View the historic Cooke 8-inch refractor telescope, enjoy a talk on the night sky and – weather permitting – step outside for some winter stargazing.

Explore the after-dark world of Forestry England's Gisburn Forest on the evening of Thursday 20th February. A number of all-terrain wheelchairs will be available for pre-booking, offering a great chance to experience this lovely location in an accessible way.

Learn about one of our most recognisable nocturnal creatures – the badger – on the morning of 21st February when Lancashire County Council ranger, Paul Shoreman, leads a guided walk in Ribchester.

The Wild By Nature Explorers session in Dunsop Bridge on Saturday 22nd has proved very popular and is already fully booked, but places can still be reserved on their waiting list.

Further information about all the Bowland Dark Skies Festival events, including booking details, can be found at: Festival Bowland Events | Forest of Bowland National Landscape

Sandra Silk, Forest of Bowland National Landscape Project Officer said: "We're so lucky that the relatively low levels of light pollution in Bowland let us see our night skies in all their glory. 

Whether you're looking for astronomy, wildlife, family fun, or simply being inspired by the beauty of Bowland after dark, we hope you'll find something to tempt you along during our night sky-themed week of events."

Collaborative event brings farmers and chefs together to enjoy a stimulating and informative afternoon and evening together

7th November 2024

An inspiring collaboration spanning field to fork, between farmers, chefs, butchers and industry organisations was held recently at Town End Farm Shop in Airton, in the Yorkshire Dales.

Pasture for Life field to fork eventThe event was developed in direct response to a desire by farmers who are part of Pasture & Profit in Protected Landscapes, a project delivered by Pasture for Life and funded by Defra through its Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, to be better equipped with information, to enable them to successfully direct market their beef to consumers. Ultimately this will enable them to build long term resilience into their farm businesses by adding value for their animals whilst at the same time supporting the nature friendly farming practices that Farming in Protected Landscapes funding aims to support.

Throughout the afternoon a group of chefs from renowned restaurants in the North, as well as representatives from businesses; Lake District Farmers and Swaledale Butchers, joined the farmers to learn more about the whole process and build relationships that could subsequently be mutually beneficial for all.

Pasture for Life field to fork eventBeginning in October, a large group of farmers, including several from the Forest of Bowland, were hosted at Megs Farm, Long Preston by James and Amy Newhouse to see three of their Pasture for Life certified belted galloway cattle of different ages, shortly before processing. After a month of maturation, the farmers, now joined by the chefs, reconvened on the 7th November to furnish themselves with key information about the next stages and discuss how future partnerships would be valuable for everyone.

Pasture for Life field to fork event

Kicking off the afternoon session, recognising that utilising the whole carcase is critically important, butchery consultant Rich Summers led an engaging live butchery demonstration in the butchery with the carcases. Focussing specifically on demystifying the terminology used for all the different cuts, Rich then demonstrated how less known and underutilised parts of the carcase can make cost effective, delicious and nutritious meals whilst contributing significantly towards helping utilise the whole carcase.

After the butchery session, the chefs and industry partners, were very kindly hosted by Neil Heseltine and Leigh Weston at Hill Top Farm, Malham to see first hand the benefits that their herd of Pasture for Life Certified Belted Galloway Cattle bring to the farm, enhancing biodiversity and the landscape, whilst being profitable and enabling the couple to have the work / life balance they value for their family.

For the farmers, the afternoon continued with two further sessions, one led by Paul Bache from food industry training experts Verner Wheelock , based in Skipton, focussed on appropriate legislation. The second of which featured Dr Gillian Butler from Newcastle University highlighting the nutritional and health benefits of meat produced in pasture based systems.

Hosted by the fantastic team at Town End Farm Shop, headed up by Chris Wildman, in their atmospheric cafe, everyone sat down together to celebrate and enjoy a delicious meal, showcasing lots of different cuts and menu ideas, all cooked by industry renowned chef Steph Moon, incorporating meat from the three belted galloway cattle, seen back in October.

With not a hungry person left in the room, the evening concluded with Chris and Rich, leading an engaging charcuterie session, an additional way of adding value to carcases and utilising joints like topside and silverside, which can often be overlooked.

“The number of people attending this event demonstrates the desire for farmers to explore ways of maximising the value of their animals” explains Project Manager for Pasture for Life, Rob Bunn “Pulling together this event has been a real team effort and I’m delighted we’ve been able to respond to farmers requests, by putting it on”.

The event was funded by Farming in Protected Landscapes Funding from 5 Protected Landscapes in the North of England; Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks and Nidderdale, North Pennines and Forest of Bowland National Landscapes, as part of the Pasture for Life Programme ‘Pasture & Profit in Protected Landscapes’. Farmers in these five protected landscapes are invited to continue to sign up to the free programme by contacting Rob on email; rob@pastureforlife.org

Older news