Community Supported Grazing
Community Supported Grazing (CSG) is an arrangement where local groups, landowners and
other stakeholders contribute to keeping grazing animals. There are various models in use
and many have structures and practices in common with Community Supported Agriculture
(there is more on CSAs, including case studies, at www.soilassociation.org/csa.aspx).
Conservation grazing is the most common catalyst for CSG. Some important habitats (such
as flower rich grassland) need grazing to maintain biodiversity – without it the land turns to
scrub and special species are lost. With community support it can become viable to graze
livestock on this land. The Grazing Animals Project is a source of information about
conservation grazing at www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk/index
Who does it and why?
Community Supported Grazing might involve landowners, farmers, local people and
volunteers, community organisations, councils and conservation bodies. Benefits might
include:
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Access to the outdoors, for people who do not otherwise have access to land or the
rewards of a farming lifestyle
Enabling grazing of land that would otherwise be unused
More local food
Support for small family farmers
Rental income from land that is otherwise not commercially viable, or maintenance
of land, fences and barns
To maintain traditional farming practices, landscape character and rare breeds
To learn farming skills through training or by helping in a group
Better access to local meat
Cheap lawn mowing (eg in council parks)
A stronger community, where people know each other and work together
To provide the right habitats for wildlife.
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Different arrangements
Communities can support grazing in several different ways. The most suitable arrangement
will depend on the needs and interests of the people and land involved. In different existing
schemes, communities offer:
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Volunteer time, eg to check animals daily
A secure market for specially produced meat
Capital, eg to buy land or stock
Skills eg website design for meat sales.
In most schemes, there is a partnership between several stakeholders, particularly
volunteers, a conservation body, the farmer and the landowner.
Community Grazing Models
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Community Supported Agriculture scheme (CSA): An examples is Stroud CSA ,
which is owned and run by a co-operative of 200 consumer households who share
the running costs of a farm. The consumer co-op rents 50 acres and employs three
farmers for a wage. The CSA produces a weekly vegetable box as well as beef, pork
and lamb. The co-op members demand that the farmers keep the land to very high
environmental standards, especially the grazing land. In return the farmers are paid
a secure wage, even in a poor season.
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Lookerer Schemes: trained volunteers check a farmer’s animals to enable marginal
land to be grazed, eg Brighton’s volunteer shepherds, http://www.brightonhove.gov.uk/content/leisure-and-libraries/parks-and-green-spaces/lookerersvolunteer-shepherds. This scheme has trained more than 70 volunteers to undertake
daily checks on animals owned by a farmer. It began as a conservation scheme on
downland but now the council have extended the scheme to urban areas to reduce
mowing costs.
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Grazing Charity: A charity set up to maintains a conservation grazing flock. For
example Sussex Pony Grazing and Conservation Trust:
www.sussexponygrazing.co.uk. This charity has 54 semi-wild Exmoor ponies. The
species is indigenous and endangered and the horses graze an AONB. Volunteers
help with animal care as well as running the charity.
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Community Grazing Group: A group of neighbours care for grazing animals. For
example Thrupp Sheep Share, where five households share responsibility for looking
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after four rare breed animals each year. They graze a field belonging to the parish
council, next to an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which was unused and
scrubbing over. The farmer who provides the animals each year also provides advice
about their care.
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Financial support scheme: This could include a community scheme to buy grazing
land for community benefit or financial support for an ethical enterprise, in the form
of loans or shares. For example when a young farmer in Yorkshire wanted to
establish a new flock, she had access to land, skills and enthusiasm but no money to
buy her first animals. 30 people loaned her £50 each for a year. After a year when
the first meat was produced, lenders had their money returned plus interest paid in
meat. Access to capital is often a barrier for farmers and community support can
make a real difference. In other schemes local people support farmers by
committing to buying meat in advance or by paying in advance.
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Area-wide network: For example, Morcambe Bay Local Grazing Scheme
www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk/gap_site/morecambe_bay_local_grazing_schem
e.html In some areas, several organisations and farmers work together to improve
access to land and manage a habitat, sometimes using a mobile herd and a
landscape-wide conservation plan. Isolated pockets of habitat make species more
vulnerable, co-ordination helps. Good networking in an area is valuable, as well as a
contact list or online resource to match land to stock keepers. Co-operation can lead
to shared marketing or specialist near and shared equipment.
Which animals are used?
Any grazing animals may be used including horses, sheep and cows. Particularly for
conservation grazing, it is important to select the most appropriate animals. Different
breeds have different grazing habits. There is information about breeds here:
www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk/breed_profiles_handbook.html
Issues to consider:
 Volunteer safety and insurance, especially where volunteers handle animals
 Animal welfare, especially where amateurs are responsible for stock
 Clear agreements between volunteers, farmers and landowners
 Regulations about killing animals and handling meat
 Regulations about moving animals, especially cows in TB areas
 Access to stock keeping expertise
 Good conservation advice about grazing regimes
 Restrictions and opportunities from farm grant schemes
 Cost of fencing, water supply, machinery and animal housing
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Poor financial returns for small scale stock keeping
Finding a market for small amounts of meat
Finding suitable land and getting a lease or licence (see
www.communitylandadvice.org.uk)
Choosing the most suitable breed.
Getting started
A community grazing scheme needs a landowner, stock owner/ farmer and community
group. In most places these groups are not well networked. A new scheme also needs an
initiator, who contributes work, takes risks and helps shape a new arrangement.
At the start of a scheme you will need to identify and approach landowners, community
organisations and farmers, bring them together and get them talking. You might speak to
not-for- profit landowners such as the National Trust or councils. You might need to speak
to private landowners who are harder to identify, try the Land Registry or persistent efforts
with word of mouth, asking neighbours about who owns land.
You might find sympathetic small farmers at the farmers market or running a farm shop,
though small holders might not have a public outlet. Many will use the local farm supplies
outlet to buy feed etc. so try a notice there. Conservation bodies might know farmers in
their area and might offer support to a new scheme eg the AONB, Farming and Wildlife
Advisory Group or Natural England.
Community groups to approach might include a local CSA, Transition group or Ramblers
Association. Once you have drawn up a good mailing list, you could try a well-run public
meeting, where you propose some ideas, ask for a response and see whether you can form
a working group to draw up plans.
ENDS
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