Exmoor Hill Farming Network CIC
Supporting the Farming Community on Greater Exmoor
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Dave Knight retires as Network Chairman
Left: Ian May – Right: Dave Knight - Dunster Show Presentation
The long-serving chairman of the Exmoor Hill Farming Network has retired from his role last month (July) due to increasing family commitments. The network will see Ian May, local sheep and beef farmer succeed as chairman.
Dave Knight has spent eight years chairing the network’s steering group, and since early 2020, he has been the chairman of directors when the network became an independent, farmer led, organisation with Community Interest Company status.
Under his leadership, the Network has become respected as the go-to hub for farming information, training and networking on Exmoor and its surrounding areas. He has worked closely with national and local organisations including The Princes Countryside Fund, North Devon+, Exmoor National Park Authority, North Devon Council, Exmoor Trust and the Exmoor Society building the Network’s stable governance structure and financial sustainability. The Network is regarded as one of the UK’s most successful and active farmer networks and has received national recognition for initiatives such as the Exmoor’s Ambition report on the future of farming after Brexit (produced jointly with the National Park Authority). It is now a trusted delivery partner for national projects on Exmoor, with organisations such as Defra, the National Sheep Association, AHPA and the NFU. Without Dave’s dynamic inputs as chairman, none of these would have been possible.
Dave added: "It has been a great privilege heading up this Network which has rapidly grown into a well-established go to hub for the wider farming community within the Greater Exmoor area. I have many highlights including meeting HRH Prince of Wales and a visitation to Highgrove particularly stands out for me in 2015 and overseeing the independent status. I have increased my own personal development and I will be remaining as an active director but stepping down from the day to day running of the organisation. I firmly believe this Network has a bright future with tremendous opportunities for our farming community. I know my successor will carry on representing the Exmoor Hill Farming Network with the utmost drive and integrity and I would like to thank all the Directors who helped me during my time."
Last week at Dunster Show, over 100 people saw Mr Knight presented with an original painting overlooking Porlock Bay, by local artist Graham Towler for his service to the farming community.
Chris Eveleigh, Director, added: "Dave has become a tremendous ambassador – both locally and nationally for Exmoor and its farmers, while managing to lead a busy farming life at the same time. He has brought farmers of all ages together in a positive, inclusive way. We have all benefitted from meeting new people and sharing ideas through the visits, events and training that have been organised under his helm. Dave’s dedication is second to none and we would like to thank him for the part he has played in the network’s success to date."
Incoming Chairman Ian who was elected as Director in May 2022, farms on the southern edge of Exmoor and has strong farming connections within Exmoor. He will take on his new role this month. Ian said: "I have been an active member of EHFN since its inception and have been impressed with the organisation as its developed over time under Dave's leadership. I feel honoured to be asked to take a more active role in the Network's future and hope that with the support of Dave, the network team and the other Directors we'll be able to continue providing effective support to the Exmoor farming community."
Katherine Williams, Network Manager added: "Ian’s extensive farming expertise and knowledge of many agricultural organisations, combined with his experience as National Sheep Association South West Regional Manager provides the skills required to help us continue developing our services for the best interest of the farming community on Exmoor’’.
Exmoor Farmer speaks out about own Mental Health struggle
Our EHFN Director , our friend talking about his own struggle with mental health. The Exmoor farming community has complete admiration for you. You are an inspiration. We hope your story will help others to speak out.
This filming was completed Autumn 2020
The Hill Farmer - Mental Health in Agriculture - New Leaf UK
#ItsOkayNottobeOkay #youareloved #helpingothers #thankyou
National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups
We are featured in @countrysidefund’s ‘National Directory of Farm and Rural Support Groups’. The pocket-sized directory contains 69 organisations from across the UK, who offer support to those living and working in rural/agricultural areas! www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/directory #NCW2020
New 100% Farmer-Led Network Has Community at Heart
The Exmoor Hill Farming Network has established itself as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and will be running as an independent, 100% farmer-led organisation from 1st February 2020. The move will mean greater independence for the Network, which already works with around 318 farming businesses, with opportunities to reinvest assets in the community and attract new sources of funding.
The newly appointed board consists of 11 directors and 4 advisory board members, led by Dave Knight, who has been Chair of the Network since its establishment 5 years ago.
Until now, the Network has been hosted and supported by North Devon +, an economic delivery agency for North Devon and Torridge, which runs a number of rural development programmes in the area.
Dave Knight, EHFN Chairman of Directors said
‘’We are immensely proud of the progress the Network has made under the auspices of North Devon + so that it is trusted by farmers and other land manging businesses in the Greater Exmoor areas as a source of valuable advice, training and support in these uncertain times’’. Dave added ‘’North Devon + has played a key role in this success and we hope to continue a close working relationship going forward.’’
The Network was established in early 2014 to improve the viability and sustainability of Exmoor farming businesses. It does this through knowledge-transfer, peer-group support, training, and co-operation to safeguard upland farming, rural employment and landscape management. It has become one of the most sought-after initiatives on Exmoor, providing the ‘go-to hub’ of information and contacts for land-based businesses, overseen by its highly regarded Network Officer, Katherine Williams.
The majority of the costs of running the Network are met by funding from The Prince’s Countryside Fund, Exmoor National Park Authority and North Devon Council, due to run until 31st January 2021. Other key partners and sponsors include Masons Kings, NFU, Dunster Show Society, Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions, Baldwins and Towergate Insurance.
During the past 18 months, the Network steering group has undertaken a Governance Review set out by the Exmoor National Park Authority. The Group took advice from other organisations such as Farm Cornwall and The Cumbria Farmer Network, who operate a similar structure, to build confidence that a fully-fledged independent route was in the best interest of Exmoor’s farming communities.
Sarah Bryan, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority , said
“It’s been a pleasure to see the Exmoor Hill Farming Network grow from strength to strength and we’re pleased to see them complete their independence through this next step. Having a strong voice for the farming community on Exmoor is vital to sustaining the traditional farming practices and ways of life that make our landscapes special. We look forward to continuing to support them in this next venture.”
Ken Miles and Jenny Wallace, Joint CEO’s, North Devon+ said
“The Exmoor Hill Farming Network has been a wonderful and truly innovative project that North Devon + has been involved with from the start. It provides vital resources and support for the farming community and is a model for community involvement that others have followed. We at North Devon + are really pleased to see it now flourishing and becoming independent and are proud of our role in the Network’s development. We look forward to seeing how the Network develops further and to working with the Network in the future.”
The Network hub will remain at Cutcombe Market by kind permission of Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctioneers and will continue to aid farmers with its flagship Exmoor’s Ambition project feeding into DEFRA’s Test and Trials of its new Environmental Land Management Scheme.
Exmoor Women in Farming Group featured on Countryfile
Exmoor Women in Farming Group featured on last nights Countryfile talking about rural isolation, knowledge exchange and transfer and the benefit the group has in our local farming community.
If you missed the show don’t worry you can catch up on
iPlayer here .
Celebration of Prince’s Countryside Fund Fifth Anniversary
Tel: 01643 841455
Email: katherine @ehfn.org.uk
Office Hours: The office is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday with remote working on Tuesday and Friday. Due to nature of our work out in the field and office based please make an appointment before you visit particularly in relation to purchasing Exmoor Farms A Year on the Moor admin@ehfn.org.uk or call 01643 841455/ 07970 795808.
