Herbal Ley Establishment & Management Course at FarmED

Join us for a one day course on Herbal Leys Establishment and Management brought to you by the FarmED team and Cotswolds Seeds.

A herbal ley is a complex seed mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs, which bring a range of benefits to forage, livestock health and soil fertility. Herbal leys can often include a mixture of up to 17 species, and can be incorporated into arable, livestock or horticultural operations.

The benefits to using herbal leys are as diverse as the species they contain. From building soil fertility and improving water resilience, to fostering better animal health and boosting biodiversity, herbal leys are a traditional low-input method of farming that provides benefits to arable, livestock and horticultural operations alike. No wonder Newman Turner, one of the great advocates of herbal leys, described these mixes as his ‘fertiliser merchant, food manufacturer and vet all in one’.

With increasing variability in weather patterns leading to drought in many parts of the country and increasing demand to reduce chemical inputs to farmland, there's been no better time to consider establishing herbal leys in your operation.

 But where do you start?

 This workshop aims to answer this question by providing an opportunity to:

 - Observe two herbal ley systems in action in our eight year arable rotation and market garden demonstrations

- Experience our mob-grazed sheep on the leys

- Learn about the costs involved and other management considerations when transitioning to herbal leys

- Have your questions answered about establishing and managing herbal leys by experts and practitioners

 By the end of the course you can expect to walk away able to:

 - Discuss the benefits of herbal leys in terms of soil, environment and animal health, resource conservation, and biodiversity enhancement

- Understand considerations for planning a herbal ley system that is appropriate for your farming operation

- Understand considerations for managing a herbal ley system, from establishment to grazing and termination

This course is designed for arable and livestock farmers and growers who are interested in working with herbal leys but want to learn more about how to start integrating seed mixtures into their current operation.

Tickets include refreshments and a seasonal hot lunch from the FarmED Kitchen.

This is a full-day course running from 9am to 4.30pm.

This event is a ‘Starter’ from the FarmED Programme Menu – a one day introductory module.

Tiered Pricing

Delivery of our mission is a collective effort and our values embrace inclusivity and diversity. We don’t want price to be a barrier to anyone visiting FarmED or attending our events. Read more about our tiered pricing policy here.

If cost is a barrier to you attending, then please do ask us for financial support. The FarmED Bursary offers free or subsidised places to those that will benefit most.

GREAT Project Participants 

As part of the project we can offer subsidised places to existing and aspiring farmers, growers and advisers in Gloucestershire to the suite of regenerative agriculture and agroecological transition courses at FarmED. To book, please select the GREAT ticket option below. You will be asked for a few eligibility details including evidence of your involvement in regenerative agriculture and your potential impact in Gloucestershire.

Book Here