Glamping in yonder field. Dream weddings in the once derelict barn, team building in the top acre... These days farmers are doing more than just growing crops or raising livestock in a bid to survive. 

Diversification means not having all your eggs in one basket and the best way seen by more and more farmers to make sure that the present and the next generation on the farm are not the last. 

Farming in Protection Landscapes Scheme (FiPL) is designed to help farms in their quest for a side hustle to help cope with the uncertain times. 

For farmer and baker Gillian Fox the scheme helped her to build on her sweet farm diversification project. The Broughton-in-Furness farmer wanted to build up an existing business, established in 2019, based in a trailer, with an honesty box for snacks. Demand was outstripping supplies. 

With the help of FiPL, The Crosby Snack Shed and Cake Cupboard was born by turning a redundant farm building at Crosbythwaite Farm into an industrial kitchen. 

As well as work to the building, key pieces of equipment were bought including an oven, fridge, sink and shelving. It meant that more food could be produced to be sold direct to the public from the farm. 

And a new market developed, selling to visitor attractions, local shops and service stations in the area. 

“The Crosby Snack Shed and Cake Cupboard is vital to the sustainability of the family farm. I saw potential to grow it and to explore business to business demand for local produce," she says.

To increase the capacity of her bakery business, Gillian converted and upgraded an existing storeroom within a farm building. This involved plastering it and fitting it with catering grade stainless steel shelving, worktops, kitchen equipment and refrigeration. 

The Snack Shed opens daily, weather permitting, from spring until autumn and is open during some winter weekends too. 

They serve a selection of hot and cold sandwiches, beverages, locally made ice cream and freshly baked home-made cakes. The total cost of the project is £18,098.15 and the grant awarded amounted to £7,239.26 

Gillian now has an extra person helping with a day of baking, and two people work part-time in the snack shed in the summer, supported by two students who also pack cakes. 

"Funding has brought many benefits, from securing a vital farm income, at a time of great uncertainty over farm payments, to encouraging visitors to dwell and learn a bit about a traditional Lakeland farm. Ultimately, it helps with the health of our local rural community and the future of our fell farm," says Gillian. 

“If you’re new to applying for funding, allow plenty of time to complete the application properly. Given the benefits of securing funding, it’s definitely worth it.” 

George Birkett is the third generation in his family to farm in the Lakes. They have two hefted flocks of native breed sheep on Blencathra Common. 

The family are keen to continue traditional farming practices, and it is this type of farming that led to the Lake District being designated as a World Heritage Site. 

George needed help with restoring a traditional barn at Wescoe Farm. Built in the 1700s, the barn had solely been used as an agricultural building for cattle housing, hay storage, stables and kennels. 

The family fill the barn with hay from high level stewardship meadows. It’s a low input crop, made close by and without the use of fertiliser, and storing it in the barn means no plastic wrap is needed to keep the bales dry. 

FiPL funding is helping to preserve this important farm building, which George says is critical to the viability of the farm business. 

Work to the barn needed to be carried out over the summer ready for winter use. A local contractor was employed, using traditional materials and skills including the use of lime mortar. 

The barn will end up looking exactly as it did when it was first built. 

“Many smaller farms are disappearing and barns are being converted into accommodation for people. Everything about World Heritage Site status for the Lake District is the system of small hill farmers, on small whole farms, staying together. Barns like this one at Wescoe Farm are key to the limited way of farming here, with the sheep coming on and off the fell at key points in the year,” said George. 

“I would say unlike other funding applications this one is straightforward. Anyone thinking of a FiPL grant should definitely get in touch with the LDNPA, as the support and guidance was excellent,” he says.

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has supported 76 projects in the Lake District through the second year of the programme and granted over £1 million in funding. Projects were led by 42 farmers, six landowners, and 15 organisations. Most of the organisations’ projects were working with large farmer groups. 

The programme has been extended and will now run to March 2025. Applications are now open for third year grants and there’s an impressive £1.13 million of funding for projects this year. 

Lake District National Park Authority farming officer Jasmine Holliday says: “We’re delighted with the success of the FiPL project over the first two years. In year one we funded 29 projects and a further 76 projects in the second year, so over 100 in total so far. These grants have ranged from £440 right through to £237,000. 

“We have given funding to 60 individual farmers, many of whom have come back to FiPL a second time for another project. On top of this we have funded a large number of farmers working together to achieve common goals through collaborative agreements. 

“In the third year we have been allocated £1.13 million of funding to deliver multiple FiPL themes and Partnership Plan actions, in particular nature recovery, climate action, and sustaining cultural heritage. We already have 23 projects using £706,359 of funding and we are looking for transformative and innovative projects to apply this year.”