Future Farming Skills Programme Success

In 2020, a training package was developed covering the skills needed to run horticultural farming businesses. Since the launch of the project, two cohorts of trainees have been put through the programme. As the delivery part of the project draws to a close following the two years of successful training provided, we are able to look back and reflect on what has been achieved during this time.

A comprehensive curriculum was created, involving an extensive list of module topics that covered all aspects of horticultural farming. The programme has been approved by Agored Cymru for endorsement through their quality mark which will provide participating trainees with certification which may help support their developments within the industry. Alongside this, trainees have also been provided with the opportunity to complete regulatory training, promoting safe working practices. The workstream is pleased to have exceeded the targets set for the programme in all areas.

Although the delivery side of the programme has come to an end, during the remaining months of the project the workstream is looking forward to hosting some final events, not only for the workstream, but as part of the entire Resilient Green Spaces project as a whole. The intention of the events are to gather feedback, look at future opportunities and create pathways to enable the legacy of the projects created through this revolutionary project to continue.

Resilient Green Spaces is a £1.27m partnership project led by Social Farms & Gardens to pilot alternative re-localised food systems using communities and their green spaces as the driving force for change across Wales until June 2023.

This project is funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. 

Six collaborative workstreams delivered by partners, are testing what communities can achieve, given the right support, access to land and freedom to do what they do best: 

Workstream 6 is delivered by a partnership between LANTRA, Cae Tan CSA and The Landworkers Alliance with a focus on building Horticultural Future Farming skills. Cardiff University Sustainable Places Research Institute are countering negative perceptions of careers in horticulture farming through creative engagements with young people.