Apply for UK100’s climate friendly county farms training by 14th January.

Apply by 14th January

County farms, farmland owned by local authorities, were originally established to provide opportunities for new and young farmers who might otherwise struggle to enter the sector.  Today, they continue this important work whilst also diversifying into ventures such as farm shops, agroforestry and outdoor learning, acting as community assets. These farms have the potential to strengthen local food systems, offer wellbeing benefits as green spaces, and support biodiversity and climate-friendly practices that deliver councils’ climate ambitions and benefit local communities and habitats. However, their climate potential has been increasingly constrained by the challenges local government faces in balancing financial pressures with their social and environmental goals.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Fund, this training programme, shaped through conversations with our members, will offer councils practical examples, peer learning and access to food and farming experts to help them protect and invest in these estates for the future. 

Delivered between February  - April 2027 it will support 8 county farm owning councils with:

• An online learning workshop to identify the key challenges farmers, councillors and officers are facing in managing their county farms sustainably, and the accompanying solutions based on best practice. 
• A site visit to showcase one of the  most innovative county farm policies in action and to meet local farmers, council officers, and stakeholders directly engaged in delivering a climate friendly approach. Sharing experiences, top tips, and exploring together replicable solutions to take forward in their own work
• Online peer support sessions to facilitate knowledge sharing, reflection and future goals, with food and farming experts.

Participants will leave with a peer learning network, a vision for their own climate and nature friendly farms, and access to food and farming experts to support future endeavours.

Why county farms?

Agriculture accounted for 12% of UK emissions in 2024, and with councils influencing over 200,000 hectares of farmland, they have a major role in reducing emissions. Yet this land is under pressure from competing demands, and unlike many commodities, we can’t create more. Rising land prices and shrinking council budgets are driving farm sales, risking loss to development or intensive agriculture, which poses its own threats to local waterways and land. That’s why we want to support councils to use their county farm estates as a power tool in their climate toolbox. Working with their tenants, their communities and their estates teams, to turn these assets into climate and nature powerhouses. 

Why trust us?

UK100 exists to convene councils around key climate and nature challenges, bringing members together with experts, facilitating knowledge sharing, and encouraging peer support. This programme builds on that, and is based on our residential training programme, the Climate Leadership Academy. Over four years, this training has supported 80 councillors to transform their climate ambition into action, providing the policy knowledge and political leadership skills key to delivery. 

We know that our training has a track-record of success in empowering councils to go further, faster, with graduates attributing our support to successful partnerships and multimillion pound funding bids, replication of pioneering schemes across the country, and increased confidence in delivering local climate action.

Who is it for?

This training programme is for local authorities who own farmland as part of their council estate, and who are keen to better understand how to protect this land as competing demands challenge its future, by embedding it as a key tool in delivering their climate and nature ambitions.

Each participating council will nominate:

• An elected local leader, ideally the most relevant cabinet member or committee chair
• A relevant officer

Participation in the programme is free for paid UK100 members, and those who commit to joining or upgrading to paid membership by 21st January 2027. A participation fee of £600 + VAT applies for ally members. Contact membership@uk100.org to explore our full range of membership benefits.

Want to find out more? Read this brochure.

How to apply?

Participation in the programme is by application. Please complete this application form by 14th January on behalf of your participants. If you’re unable to access this form, please contact membership@uk100.org and we can provide it in alternative formats.