Duchy College and Cornish Mutual Launch Free Farming Workshops Across Cornwall

A new partnership between Duchy College and Cornish Mutual is offering free workshops aimed at helping farmers across Cornwall build more resilient, productive and profitable businesses.

The collaboration brings together Duchy College’s land-based expertise with Cornish Mutual’s long-standing support for farmers in the South West, with a shared focus on practical solutions that can be applied on farm.

“Working with Cornish Mutual allows us to support farmers with practical, relevant training that responds directly to the pressures they are facing,” said Ed Parrish, Principal of Land Based Environment at Duchy College.
“This partnership helps us bring together trusted expertise and advice farmers can apply to their businesses.”

“Cornish Mutual has always stood alongside South West farmers, both through our products and services, and by providing access to the knowledge and solutions needed by local agricultural businesses,” said Peter Beaumont, Chief Executive Officer, Cornish Mutual. “This partnership with Duchy College represents our continued focus on our farmers and the future of South West agriculture.”

Farming Smarter, Not Harder

The partnership launched earlier this month with the first Farming Smarter, not Harder event at Duchy College Rosewarne. The next session takes place on Wednesday 21st January at Duchy College’s Stoke Climsland campus.

The workshop looks at how farms can remain viable as subsidy models change. Attendees explore working with natural systems to improve soil health, reduce inputs, protect water and support biodiversity.

Farmers also hear about practical approaches to cultivation, nutrient use and input management, including costs, benefits and suitability for different systems. The session introduces simple tools and apps to help track inputs, outputs and environmental impact.

The workshop is led by Louise Davis from Farm Cornwall, drawing on experience grounded in farm practice and advisory work.

Further Workshops Planned

Farming Smarter, not Harder acts as a gateway into a series of further sustainable farming workshops running throughout February and early March.

These include:

• Making the most of your muck, led by Andrew Sincock from Agriton with Sam and Mike Roberts of Blable Farm

• How technology can boost farm performance, led by Wenna Killen of Agsenze and Liz Speller from Shearwell, joined by Alex Holland from Duchy College Future Farm, Stoke Climsland and Cornish farmers JJ and Kiki Willcocks

• Unlocking farm performance; healthy soil, smarter water, led by Dr Hannah Jones from Farm Carbon Toolkit with Malcolm and Catherine Barrett of Tregooden Farm

• Building a reliable team for long-term success, led by Real Success and joined by Pete and Jenny Olds from Cornhill Farm

Each half-day workshop runs from 11am to 2pm and includes lunch.

For more details and to book a place, visit Duchy College’s page on sustainable farming workshops.

Funding Support

The events form part of the Future is Green Project, part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is managed by Cornwall Council. More information is available on the Future is Green Project website.

📷Pictured L-R: Victoria Mulholland - Duchy College, Juliet Allister - Cornish Mutual, local farmer Charlie Penna and Louise Davis - Farm Cornwall.