Training and events for land managers
We run a range of events to help people build business resilience and look after the High Weald’s environment, as well helping other organisations promote their events.
Most events are free, and most are tailored to farmers and other land managers.
Below are the events being run across the area during spring/summer 2025/26. The list is not exhaustive, and additional events will be added as they become available, so please keep checking this page for updates. If there is a topic not on this list that you think would be of interest please contact us and we will see what we can organise.
Events 2025/26
| Event | Date | Who is it for? | Location | Organiser and booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Introduction to the High Weald Join the High Weald Team on a walk and talk to find out more about the special features of this protected landscape. | Thursday 1 May, 2025 10.00-1.00 | Invite only | Mayfield | High Weald team |
| High Weald Nature and Community Fund Webinar Find out more about our Lund Trust-supported grant programme for not-for-profit organisations in and around the High Weald National Landscape. Is your project eligible, how do you apply, and top tips for your application. | Monday 12 May, 2025 11.00-12.00 | Community groups, schools, churches, charities and other not for profit organisations | Online | High Weald team Book your place >> |
| High Weald Nature and Community Fund Launch Event An in-person event to hear about the Lund Trust-supported grant programme, and hear from some successful 2024 projects. | Wednesday 14 May, 2025 7-8.30pm | Community groups, schools, churches, charities and other not for profit organisations | Stade Hall, Hastings TN34 3FJ | High Weald team Book your place >> |
| High Weald Nature and Community Fund Webinar Find out more about our Lund Trust-supported grant programme for not-for-profit organisations in and around the High Weald National Landscape. Is your project eligible, how do you apply, and top tips for your application. | Monday 9 June, 2025 1.30-2.30 | Community groups, schools, churches, charities and other not for profit organisations | Online | High Weald team Book your place >> |
| Pembury Landscape Nature Recovery – landowner meeting Along with Kent High Weald Partnership we will be exploring opportunities for landowners to work together to achieve nature recovery within the landscape. | Tuesday 10 June, 2025 10.00-2.00 | Landowners in the Pembury area | Pippins Farm, Pembury TN2 4AB | High Weald team |
| An Introduction to the High Weald Join the High Weald Team on a walk and talk to find out more about the special features of this protected landscape. | Friday 4 July, 2025 10.00-1.00 | Invite only | Mayfield | High Weald team |
| An Introduction to the High Weald Join the High Weald Team on a walk and talk to find out more about the special features of this protected landscape. | Saturday 23 August, 2025 10.00-1.00 | Invite only | Mayfield | High Weald team |
Past events
These events have already been delivered this year. If there is a particular event you are interested in, please keep checking back to see if we are running it again. Alternatively, contact us to make a request.
| Event | Date | Who is it for? | Location | Organiser and booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| An introduction to Land App | Tuesday 11 March, 2025 10.30-12.30 | Farmers, landowners, farm tenants and land managers | Acorn Tourism, Flimwell, East Sussex TN5 7PR | High Weald Team |
| Healthy Land Healthy Horse A webinar with Dan Smith, farmer and consultant in grazing management with a specialism in equine grazing | Tuesday 11 March, 2025 7.00-8.30pm | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Online | Pasture for Life |
| Online Workshops Exploring Food, Farming, Health and Climate | The series is running twice throughout March 2025 | People who live, work or shop in the High Weald, Kent or Surrey National Landscapes | Online | Pasture for Life |
| Farm Walk – A journey towards regenerative farming | Thursday 6 March, 2025 10.30-12.45 | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Sandhills Farm, Surrey | Pasture for Life |
| Landscape projects and farm clusters – facilitation and funding Join selected colleagues active in facilitating and funding landscape projects and farm clusters around the High Weald for an uplifting exchange of knowledge and ideas. | Tuesday 4 March, 2025 10.00-2.00 | Invited farm cluster members | Burwash Common, East Sussex | High Weald Team |
| Setting up a Venison Business (free) A unique opportunity to learn from the lead stalker of this family-run farming estate which runs a successful venison business supplying to shops and restaurants. | Wednesday 19 February, 2025 | Deer stalkers and land managers in the High Weald | Falconhurst Estate, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 5NR | High Weald Team |
| Financial Planning for Farmers | Thursday 13 February, 2025 | Farmers, landowners, farm tenants and land managers | High Weald Team | |
| An Introduction to Land App | Thursday 6 February, 2025 | Farmers, landowners, farm tenants and land managers | Acorn Tourism, Flimwell, East Sussex | High Weald Team |
| High Weald Deer Conference An exciting day with presentations from national experts on a range of topics. | Saturday 1 February, 2025 10am-4pm | Farmers, Land Managers, Stalkers in the High Weald | Robertsbridge Community College, East Sussex | High Weald Team |
| Winter Webinar: Challenges and Benefits of Grazing Sheep in Vineyards Join holistic management educator and viticulturist Kelly Mulville as he shares his experience of integrating sheep into vineyard systems. | Thursday 30 January, 2025 | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Online | Pasture for Life |
| Farm Hedgerow Management – why, what, when and how (free) An informative presentation and walk and talk with Megan Gimber, who is nationally recognised for her expertise in hedges and their management and advises many farm clusters. | Thursday 5 December, 2024 11:30am – 2pm | Farmers, landowners, farm tenants and land managers | Bigges Farm, nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex | High Weald Team |
| Dead-hedgelaying workshop Join us for a hands-on experience at Limden Brook Farm in Sussex, to learn about a new hedgerow management technique developed here in the High Weald. See for yourself how dead-hedgelaying prevents browsing by deer and stock, creates instant wildlife habitat and increases hedgerow carbon-capture. | Thursday 28 November, 2024 10.45am – 2.00pm | Landowners, contractors, farmers and conservationists in the High Weald | Limden Brook Farm, Sheepstreet Lane, Etchingham TN19 7AZ | Brightling Environment Group, Limden Brook Organic & High Weald Team |
| Managing Horses in an Adaptive Grazing System Join farmers Rupert and Caroline Phillips for a farm walk to learn how they are managing their stud farm on the North Downs, hear about the changes they have seen since moving to adaptive grazing and the role of compost in creating nutritious, resilient pasture. | Thursday 28 November, 2024 10.30am – 1.00pm | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Shelvin Farm, Wootton, Kent CT4 6RL | Pasture for Life |
| High Weald nature reserve managers Autumn/Winter networking meeting A walk and talk with other managers of nature reserves and public greenspaces to share experiences of site management in the High Weald National Landscape and consider opportunities for collaboration. (20 spaces) | Tuesday 26 November, 2024 10.00am – 1.00pm | Nature reserve and other public site managers within the High Weald | Nymans, nr Haywards Heath RH17 6EB | High Weald Team |
| How to Host a Farm Walk Walk and talk with Russ Carrington, previously at the helm of PfL and working with regenerative livestock farmers across the UK and Ireland. Russ also spent 3 years at the Knepp Estate establishing a new regenerative farming business adjacent to their rewilding project. This event will help farmers build the knowledge & skills to independently offer farm tours to local farmers and communities. (5 spaces) | Friday 1 November, 2024 10am – 1pm | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Romshed Farm, Sevenoaks TN15 0SB | Pasture for Life |
| How to Host a Farm Walk Walk and talk with Russ Carrington, previously at the helm of PfL and working with regenerative livestock farmers across the UK and Ireland.Russ also spent 3 years at the Knepp Estate establishing a new regenerative farming business adjacent to their rewilding project.This event will help farmers build the knowledge & skills to independently offer farm tours to local farmers and communities. (5 spaces) | Thursday 31 October, 2024 10.30am – 1.30pm | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Greenoak Farm, Brightling TN32 5HB | Pasture for Life |
| Benefits of Grazing Sheep between the Vines at Silverhand Organic Vineyard A vineyard walk with shepherd Carrie Worgan for a walk among the vines to see how Romney and Hebridean sheep are being used to graze her vineyard. We will explore the opportunities and challenges of grazing sheep between the vines during the dormant period and there will also be a chance to learn how cattle and sheep are being used for conservation throughout the estate. | Wednesday 30 October, 2024 10.30am – 12.30pm | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Silverhand Estate, DA13 0XE | Pasture for Life |
| Gralloching and Carcass Handling Best Practice This event, run by the British Deer Society, will cover a range of topics for deer stalkers to become more competent in dealing with venison carcasses. In addition to a gralloching demonstration, other topics covered include pre shot observations, initial external inspections, carcass extraction, transport, lardering and chilling, tagging and traceability. | Sunday 27 October, 2024 | Deer stalkers in the High Weald | Ashdown Forest Centre, Forest Row RH18 5JP | High Weald Team / BDS |
| Bale Grazing: Building a Stockpile to Extend Winter Grazing on Heavy Clay A farm walk with beef farmer Penny Franklin at Brightleigh Farm, which has brought back regenerative farming methods to produce meat that is nutritious and ethically raised. See how Penny has extended the time that her cattle are outside over the winter and reduced the time they are in the barn. | Thursday 24 October, 2024 10.30am – 12.30pm | Farmers in the High Weald, Kent Downs or Surrey Hills National Landscapes | Brightleigh Farm, Outwood, Surrey RH1 5PY | Pasture for Life |
| Funding for Farmers: an introduction (free) An introductory workshop on grant schemes that may help your farm business. An ideal starting point to help you navigate through the numerous grants on offer with some High Weald case studies. | Wednesday 23 October, 2024 7.00pm – 9.00pm | Farmers, landowners, farm tenants and land managers | The Roebuck, Forest Row, RH18 5JL | High Weald Team |