Laois to host landmark Farming for Nature Festival in summer

The main programme will have sessions covering soil health, biodiversity, water resilience and farm finance

(Left to right) Grace Clarke, Farming for Nature Festival events assistant, Lydia Lishman, Farming for Nature Festival coordinator, and David Walsh Kemmis of Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery which will host the two-day festival.

Farmers from across Ireland will gather in Co Laois this June for the first ever Farming for Nature Festival, a new farmer-led event focused on sharing practical approaches to nature-friendly farming.

The two-day festival will take place at Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery on June 22 and 23, bringing together farmers, researchers and industry stakeholders interested in building more sustainable and resilient farming systems.

Organised by Farming For Nature, the event will feature more than 50 farmers sharing their experience of transitioning to lower-input, nature-based systems, with a strong focus on practical solutions on farms.

The initiative is being delivered in partnership with BASE Ireland and the National Organic Training Skillnet.

Event organiser Lydia Lishman said the aim is to create a space for open discussion and peer learning.

“This farmer-led gathering is about creating a space for farmers to learn, connect and share knowledge. We want to focus on real stories — the successes and the challenges — and show how good food begins with good farming,” she said.

“We also want to show how to become resilient to future challenges and grow a movement that works with nature, not against it.” 

The festival will open on the evening of June 22 with a solstice-themed event, including a shared meal featuring sustainably produced food, alongside music and keynote addresses from Patrick Holden, Darina Allen and Steve Collins.

The main programme will run from 9.30am on June 23, with sessions covering soil health, biodiversity, water resilience and farm finance. Organisers said content will range from entry-level discussions to more technical presentations, catering for farmers at different stages of transition.

Alongside talks, attendees will be able to take part in field demonstrations and drop-in workshops aimed at delivering practical skills that can be applied directly on farm. The event will conclude with fireside discussions, followed by food and entertainment.

The festival is supported by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, the Lifes2Good Foundation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Organisers said the event is designed to provide farmers with practical advice and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, while supporting the development of more resilient farm systems that can sustain biodiversity and farm incomes.

Tickets are priced at €50 for a one-day pass, or €75 for a combined solstice evening and festival ticket, with further details available on the Farming for Nature festival website.