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Purchase completed!

LATEST UPDATE: The Trust secures the only remaining land-based learning centre in Cumbria

Watch this interview with ITV News at Low Beckside Farm

Listen to this interview with BBC Radio Cumbria

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith & The Border meeting the Trust’s Chief Executive Dr Victoria Edwards OBE, at Low Beckside Farm

The purchase of Low Beckside Farm was closely followed and widely reported by local and industry sector media:

Times & Star
News & Star
Cumbria Crack
Westmorland Gazette
Cumberland & Westmorland Herald
Farming UK
Horticulture Week
Farmers Weekly

We are delighted to announce that our proposed acquisition of Low Beckside Farm in Cumbria earlier this summer is finally complete.

We are farmers!

The farm was previously part of Newton Rigg Agricultural College’s campus, which closed in July.

Securing the farm’s future as a land-based learning centre for young people has been widely welcomed, with partnerships already being forged between local colleges, and young people due on site soon to learn about upland farming.

Our Chief Executive, Dr Victoria Edwards said:

I am very excited at the prospect of farming here at Low Beckside, which will be a first for The Ernest Cook Trust. We are landowners, with many tenant farmers, but here we will be farming ourselves for the first time and we’re looking forward to working with young people who are also starting out on their farming careers.
Key to making a success of Low Beckside is understanding what the community needs so we are looking forward to getting out, meeting and talking with people. We have already introduced ourselves to Mungrisdale Parish Council, and representatives of the farming community, and have received a very warm welcome.

Victoria has met with Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith & The Border, who welcomed the acquisition of Low Beckside by The Ernest Cook Trust. He said:

It has been great to meet again with Victoria and to discuss The Ernest Cook Trust’s positive plans for maintaining Low Beckside Farm as an educational learning site supporting young people. I am delighted that Low Beckside has been secured by The Ernest Cook Trust and I look forward to working with them on this exciting project.
This development is another lifeline in saving land-based education in Eden and Cumbria. I will continue to fight for our rural sector and for a future for land-based education in Cumbria.

See previous media coverage here: