大象传媒

The future is uncertain for the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme - which funds projects like nature recovery, historic building maintenance and community projects. The deadline for applications for the original scheme is in March next year, and as that time gets closer, people are worrying about what comes next. DEFRA have told us, 鈥淒ecisions on the future of the scheme have not yet been made,鈥� but says there will be an update 鈥渋n due course鈥�.

Back in 2021, we reported on an ambitious project to create a collection of different tweeds representing each of the major Lake District Valleys. They鈥檇 be woven from wool provided by sheep farmers in those valleys, who鈥檇 be paid a premium. The idea was not only produce some beautiful fabrics but also raise the profile of wool as valuable product in its own right, not just as a by product of meat. Now they've been completed, and we've been along to take a look.

The Government is buying more than 5 million doses of a vaccine to protect against bird flu spreading in humans. The H5N1 flu virus has killed millions of birds across the world over the last few years, and in the USA it has been passed onto dairy cows and some people. At the moment, the Government says there is no evidence of the virus being spread from human to human. These vaccines would only be used if the virus did start passing between humans.

And recruiting farm workers has become more difficult in recent years, with Brexit, an aging demographic and competition from other industries all contributing to the problem. We find out how The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture is offering advice and training to try to make the farming industry more attractive to new recruits.

Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Heather Simons