Inishowen Upland Farmers Project

Total budget: 989500

Main funding sourceRural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 56 of Reg.1305/2013)
Project typeOperational group
Starting date2019
End date2023

This project aims to improve the economic sustainability of farming High Nature Value (HNV) land in Inishowen through the implementation of a range of innovative measures which also deliver on environmental sustainability by increasing biodiversity, improving water quality and combating climate change.

To achieve these goals, the project will pursue the following specific objectives:

-Provide a best practice management template to Increase farm profitability.

-Demonstrate that by adopting a whole farm approach that addresses both the economic and environmental aspects of mountain upland and improved lowland on the farm will lead better long-term outcomes.

Participating farmers will have a farm plan created using data collected from spatial mapping of their farm to:

• Integrate suitable broadleaved woodland into their improved land   to best improve the hydrology of the area.

• Plant trees and hedges to provide shelter belts.

• Incorporate clover and trial alternative legumes, apply lime to build soil fertility to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers.

• Trial red clover swards for silage production.

• Create multi-purpose ponds

• Trial experimental grazing regimes with cattle, where sheep are traditionally grazed, to establish ideal conditions for optimum management and production of biodiverse upland vegetation.

• Prescribe wetland restoration.

Contact person: 

Mr Henry O’ Donnell

Address: Drumfries, Clonmany, Co. Donegal

E-mail: henryodon@gmail.com Phone: +353 (0)862670743 /

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