At a time of great challenge and uncertainty for farm families, The Farming For Nature Handbook shares contributions from 50 farmers on how working with nature can help reduce costs, protect livelihoods and improve incomes, while sustaining and enhancing the natural environment.

The book was conceived and developed by conservationist Brigid Barry, researched and mainly written by conservation ecologist Dr. Emma Hart on behalf of Farming For Nature and co-edited by Dr. Brendan Dunford of the Burrenbeo Trust. It is illustrated with watercolours and sketches by farmer and artist Clive Bright as well as digital images by scientific illustrator William Helps.

The Farming for Nature Handbook. €30. farmingfornature.ie.

Brigid Barry who originates from a beef and arable farm in Co Cork and manages the Farming for Nature project says the book is an extension of work that has been ongoing for six years.

The Farming For Nature project was set up in 2018 as a non-profit project established under the Burrenbeo Trust to support farmers who wish to farm and manage their land in a way that will improve the natural health of our countryside.

“What we do is we find exemplary farmers each year to showcase the work they're doing alongside nature, and now we have 104 farmers in our network,” says Brigid. “Every year we do podcasts and videos and share lots of their tips and tricks of what they're doing to work alongside nature but also to be productive on their farm.”

“We receive a lot of requests from people saying: 'Oh, I've got a farm. What do I do? Where do I start?' And we have a lot of resources online, but we just felt nothing really beats having a book on your shelf that will have simple tips on what you can do by habitat.”

Brigid says The Farming for Nature Handbook is two years in the making.

Left to right: Kiladre beef farmer Kim McCall, Ella McSweeney, Kildare tillage farmer Andrew Bergin, co author and conservation scientist Dr Brendan Dunford.

“50 farmers told us what they've done on their land, and we've also backed up everything we've said with science. No stone is left unturned and we're not just telling stories. We're also proving by science that these processes work for nature, for your farm, for cleaner waters, more fertile soils, for creating habitats."

“We talk about where you can start on your farm and then it goes into soil, grassland and all the habitats you can have, like woodlands, peatlands, uplands, even around your farm building or around your gardens."

Brigid says the audience is not just targeted at farmers, but also growers and gardeners.

"It's for farmers looking to release more of the natural processes on their land. It's also for growers who are looking to make their soils more fertile and be more productive in that area. It's for gardeners as well, who perhaps want to have more pollinator friendly flowers and embrace more native species.”

The Farming for Nature Handbook was launched in Killruddery Yard, Co Wicklow on 28 November 2024 and Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop in Co Galway on 29 November 2024.