Mr. Will Rawling

Rural Futures Co-ordinator, Will Rawling, who is also one of the eight farmers, said, "Getting farmers to work together is one of Rural Futures' objectives and makes good sense for farmers.

Will Rawling, of Ennerdale, a Rural Futures co-ordinator who was elected to the new board, told the meeting that the whole of Cumbrian agriculture would benefit from the continuation of the farmer-led projects.

It would re-connect farmers with the funding agencies as well as the other main county farming organisations - Pentalk, the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, Farm Connect Cumbria, Cumbria Organics as well as the NFU and the CLA - in a rural partnership.

"This rural partnership will result in efficient quality production, sustainable commodities and land management and efficient delivery of policy," he said.

Membership of the co-operative would have opportunities to join local skills groups.It would enable to development of projects for the benefits of all farmers and allow farmers to communicate their needs to the funding agencies.

It is envisaged that it will provide information and technical backing to members through newsletters and a website as well as a telephone information line and services could include reduced cost help with form filling.

Board members elected for each district were: Copeland, Will Rawling, Ennerdale and Richard Maxwell, Ennerdale; Eden, Brian Armstrong, Kirkoswald and Carl Walters, Bampton; South Lakeland, Mick Boon Kendal, and Jayne Bland, Selside; Carlisle, Arnold Maw, Bewcastle and Thomas Whiteford, Brampton; Allerdale, Ken Pears, Caldbeck and Glenis Postlethwaite, Cockermouth.
...
Rural Futures assistant farmer network manager Will Rawling, said: "We are responding to the fact that the average age of a farmer is over 50 and that many farmers we are working with complain about a lack of young people coming into the industry from outside farming families.

Directors elected at the annual meeting, left to right, back, Richard Maxwell, Glenis Postlethwaite, Carl Walters, Mike Booth, front, Brian Armstrong, Arnold Maw, Jayne Bland, Thomas Whiteford and Will Rawling.
...
Will Rawling, of Ennerdale, a Rural Futures co-ordinator who was elected to the new board, told the meeting that the whole of Cumbrian agriculture would benefit from the continuation of the farmer-led projects.

It would re-connect farmers with the funding agencies as well as the other main county farming organisations , Pentalk, the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, Farm Connect Cumbria, Cumbria Organics as well as the NFU and the CLA , in a rural partnership.

"This rural partnership will result in efficient quality production, sustainable communities and land management and efficient delivery of policy," he said.

Membership of the co-operative would have opportunities to join local skills groups.It would enable to development of projects for the benefits of all farmers and allow farmers to communicate their needs to the funding agencies.

It is envisaged that it will provide information and technical backing to members through newsletters and a website as well as a telephone information line and services could include reduced cost help with form filling.

Board members elected for each district were: Copeland, Will Rawling, Ennerdale and Richard Maxwell, Ennerdale; Eden, Brian Armstrong, Kirkoswald and Carl Walters, Bampton; South Lakeland, Mick Booth, Kentmere, and Jayne Bland, Selside; Carlisle, Arnold Maw, Bewcastle and Thomas Whiteford, Brampton; Allerdale, Ken Pears, Caldbeck and Glenis Postlethwaite, Lorton.

Rural Futures assistant farmer network manager Will Rawling, said: "We are responding to the fact that the average age of a farmer is over 50 and that many farmers we are working with complain about a lack of young people coming into the industry from outside farming families.

Rural Futures co-ordinator and farmer Will RawlingRural Futures co-ordinator and farmer Will Rawling explains the future management of the Ennerdale Valley as part of the Wild Ennerdale project to trainees, left to right, James Hodgson, Ian Wilson and Louise Case.

Will Rawling, owner of Hollins Farm, Ennerdale, warned: "This is the straw that breaks the camel's back in a lot of cases.
...
Mr Rawling, 50, a co-ordinator for Rural Futures, the support agency for Cumbrian farmers, sees more farms going the way of Yew Tree, with worrying knock-on effects.
...
Mr Rawling said: "The schemes have benefits from an environmental point of view and a farming point of view.
...
Mr Rawling said: "There is so much uncertainty, regulation, bureaucracy, confusion and contradiction, that it is difficult to know where we are going."

THE NEW Directors: Elected at the first annual meeting were, left to right, back, Richard Maxwell, Glenis Postlethwaite, Carl Walters, Mike Booth; front, Brian Armstrong, Arnold Maw, Jayne Bland, Thomas Whiteford and Will Rawling.
...
Will Rawling, of Ennerdale, a Rural Futures co-ordinator who was elected to the new board, told the meeting that the whole of Cumbrian agriculture would benefit from the continuation of the farmer-led projects.

Rural Futures Co-ordinator, Will Rawling who is also one of the eight farmers said, "Getting farmers to work together is one of Rural Futures' objectives and makes good sense for farmers.

Within Copeland itself, for instance, the cost of an incinerator for fallen stock was shared between eight farmers, including co-ordinator Will Rawling of the Hollins, Ennerdale, who said getting farmers to work together made good sense."It's a win-win situation."

Will Rawling, farmer and Rural Futures co-ordinator, then gave a talk.