Although the Lancashire Rural Futures programme has ceased

specialist rural business support can still be accessed through

Rural Futures on 01995 600724 www.ruralfutures.co.uk

With pressure on margins from livestock markets both John Stott and his son Simon were looking to improve profitability by diversifying into sheep dairying. Simon had researched the project thoroughly and produced a design for the milking system. They now supply seven dairies, which make sheep cheese, including Leagram Dairies who use the sheep milk in their production.

Sheep milking parlour

The environmental component of their project was to expand their existing Countryside Stewardship Scheme to include the management of further boundary restoration work and manage a species rich pasture to benefit wild flowers and for wading birds (shaded yellow below).

Stewardship Map