Background

Situated between Tebay and Sedbergh, Low Borrowbridge Farm is an upland beef and sheep farm operated as a partnership by a mother and son. The farm maintains a pedigree herd of Belted Galloway cows and is deeply rooted in sustainable, high-quality livestock production.

The Challenge

Low Borrowbridge Farm sought to diversify its income by selling meat directly to the local community and social media followers. To facilitate this, they needed to renovate and rewire part of an existing barn to accommodate large chest freezers and fridges for safe, on-site meat storage.

At the same time, the partnership wished to better understand the ecological value of their acid grasslands. They hoped to qualify for the species-rich grassland payment under the Sustainable Farm Incentive (SFI), but needed an expert ecological assessment to confirm eligibility.

The Solution

The farm applied for support through the Growth Hub and received a grant of £2,458.83 funded by the Rural England Prosperity Fund, provided by Westmorland & Furness Council, which provided two key benefits:

• Funding for the purchase of freezers and fridges, enabling them to store meat on site and begin direct sales to customers.
• A voucher to commission an ecologist to assess the species richness of their acid grasslands.

The ecologist’s assessment confirmed that one field parcel was species rich. This finding led to the land being added to the Priority Habitat Register by Natural England, allowing the farm to successfully apply for a Sustainable Farm Incentive agreement with enhanced environmental payments.

In addition, Low Borrowbridge Farm received council funding for solar panels and a battery system. This investment is helping to reduce energy bills and improve the farm’s sustainability by cutting its reliance on grid electricity.

The Impact

Low Borrowbridge Farm has recently started selling meat directly to local customers and social media followers, providing the community with good-quality, locally produced food. This new sales channel is expected to deliver a reliable income stream in the long term, reducing reliance on fluctuating beef cattle market prices.

Thanks to the ecological assessment, the farm secured a better environmental scheme than would have been possible otherwise, bringing additional financial stability. The installation of solar panels and battery storage is further enhancing the farm’s sustainability and cost-efficiency.

The application process was reported to be straightforward, with helpful and supportive staff throughout, enabling the partnership to access these benefits with ease.

Overall, Low Borrowbridge Farm is building a more resilient and sustainable business model that benefits both the local community and the environment.