The Farmer Network held a social evening for farmers as part of a new programme supported by the Defra Farmer Welfare fund.

The main aim of the funding is to support projects that focus on improving farmer health and welfare and reaching out to more farmers and their families.

The Farmer Network’s funding bid along with three partner organisations, was one of only three successful applications awarded by Defra in England.

The Farmer Supper, held at Tebay Sports & Social Club, saw 50 farmers get together for a tasty pie and pea supper. The farmers were from local communities, with some also travelling from further afield including more remote areas in and around the Howgill Hills and the Shap Fells. In some cases, several generations came along including families with babies, and grandparents too.

There is growing recognition that farming particularly in remote areas, can be very isolated and quite lonely at times. This year has been particularly challenging, due to both the constantly challenging weather conditions and ongoing concerns about changes to agricultural policies being introduced by government. All of this was put to one side as farmers chatted away at the supper, catching up with friends, neighbours and others from further away.

Donna Gough, senior operations manager at The Farmer Network, who organised the meeting, said: “We run many farmer meetings and events, where we have a speaker discussing a topic related to the farm business. Our farmers tell us that they always enjoy a catchup and a chance just to talk at the end of the meetings. This inspired us to apply for the Defra funding to organise some specific social events. We had a lovely atmosphere at tonight’s farmer supper.”

As part of the funding programme, The Farmer Network plans to run similar events in other areas as well as holding outreach clinics at auction marts to provide useful information about farm support schemes, to help farmers access their Rural Payments Agency account and to signpost to other support when needed. There will also be workshops which will help farming communities become more resilient by focusing on topics such as succession planning and health and safety on farms.