A pioneering Monmouthshire farming project has successfully brought together farmers, consumers and environmentalists.

Local farmers, farming organisations, community groups and various funding organisations came together in 2023 to start an ambitious regenerative agriculture project. In the last two years, three Monmouthshire farms have started their journey towards regenerative agriculture under the guidance of expert Ben Taylor-Davies, (aka Regen Ben), located in Ross-on-Wye.

Lead by a Monmouth-based community group, ACE Monmouth (Action on Climate Emergency), the three mentee farms involved were Llanover, near Abergavenny, Square Farm near Monmouth and Lower House Farm near Chepstow.

Much has been achieved on each farm, including the introduction of herbal leys, mob grazing, pigs for weed control, new farm business ventures, Johnson-Su & Bokashi composting system, reduced inputs (e.g. pesticides, fertilisers etc), finding soya feed alternatives, Wildfarmed membership, new product lines through collaboration, Groundswell regen ag trade show attendance, community invited on farm and new public footpaths.

“The arable system that we are now embracing is looking to integrate livestock, utilise cover crops through the winter, with an overall view that over the transitional period of the next 5-10 years, we will see all artificial inputs fall away from the business” says Tom Jones, farm manager at Llanover.

Rob Whittall of Square Farm says “I feel that the Regen project has taken me forward on my journey looking after the land, the wildlife, the soils and the biodiversity on the farm”.

“We focussed on the animal feed because soy is added into most of it and it is an enormously intensive product, pretty much used without thought or consequence – well, we don’t really want to be part of that.” says Matt Brooks, of Lower House Farm “But through the project, we’ve found a solution from a local business, and we are using rape meal mixed into the cereal blend we feed our animals.”

Regenerative agriculture focusses on improving soil health and follows five key principles: maintaining living roots in the soil, keeping the soil covered, growing a diversity of plants, including grazing livestock, and minimal soil disturbance (physical & chemical). On average, it takes 5-7 years to transition fully to regen, but this figure will depend on the farm’s starting point and how degraded the soil is.

Cherry Taylor, an ACE Monmouth volunteer involved in the project said “Working with Ben and the farmers has definitely changed how I see farming, food production and its impact on nature and the climate. It has taught me that there is always more to it, always complexity that needs to be understood and that the old mantra of “seek first to understand” is so relevant. Situation, circumstances and soil health are hugely variable, but are absolutely key, which makes devising farming legislation to support the planet an exceptionally hard task.”

It was never imagined at the start of the project that a room full of environmentalists, consumers and farmers would be able to discuss the various implications of glyphosate versus ploughing without negative consequences, which was the case at Rob Whittall’s talk in Nov 24, attended by over 40 people from the Monmouth area.

Going forward, while initially reticent about opening up Square Farm land to the public, Rob and Ryan Whittall, are now keen to start farm tours inviting both the public and other farmers to see what they are doing in terms of organic farming and where regen ag fits in.

The first visit is earmarked for June 8th 2025 as part of Open Farm Sunday. Rob and Ryan will also be hosting the 2025 Marches Food and Farming Convergence on 3-4 October 2025.

Rob says “Through the farm shop, we’ve got a link now with our customers who see the farm; they see us, the crops and the variety of things we are doing, and it’s important that they come and talk to us and try and get connected again to where their food comes from.”

For enquiries about the project or the forthcoming events at Square Farm, contact [email protected].

With thanks to the funders:

· Wye Valley National Landscapes (WVNL) Sustainable Development Fund (SDF)

· Monmouthshire Food Partnership (MFP) and Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) UK Share Prosperity Fund

· The Coop Carbon Innovation Fund through Size of Wales

· Action on Climate Emergency (ACE) Monmouth through a Monmouth Town Council (MTC) Partnership Agreement