Penrith and The Border MP, Dr Neil Hudson, met with the Ernest Cook Trust’s Chief Executive Dr Victoria Edwards to discuss the finalisation of the sale of Newton Rigg’s Low Beckside Farm. Dr Hudson was encouraged by his conversations with Dr Edwards as Cumbrian land-based learning enters a new chapter post the closure of Newton Rigg College.
The purchase of the farm by The Ernest Cook Trust was announced in July and now, six weeks on, the sale is almost complete. Newton Rigg, the only remaining land-based learning centre in Cumbria, closed in July.
Already, partnerships are being forged between local colleges, and young people are due on site soon to learn about upland farming.
The Ernest Cook Trust is a UK-wide educational charity, creating outdoor experiences for children and young people. A landowner in five counties, it runs education programmes on its own estates, as well as with partners’ estates, and offers grants for land-based learning activities.
The Trust bought Low Beckside Farm to secure it as a land-based learning centre for young people. The Trust already has a presence in Cumbria, through a partnership with Lowther Castle.
Dr Hudson 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.”
The Ernest Cook Trust’s Chief Executive Dr Victoria Edwards OBE 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.”
Newton Rigg campus closed in July. Its other assets are being sold separately.
