THE director of Cumbria’s National Centre for the Uplands has received a royal accolade by being asked to represent Prince Charles at a major farming conference next month.

Julia Aglionby will attend the Oxford Farming Conference on the prince’s behalf on January 3, when she will take part in a discussion panel responding to a new report, Farmers’ Contribution to Society.

Ms Aglionby, a nationally renowned uplands and common land expert, has developed links with the prince through The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

The fund is backing the Fresh Start Uplands Academy project, part of a national Fresh Start project for the industry, which is running its first course at Newton Rigg College next year.

The sessions, on February 4 and 19 and June 4 and 18, cover areas such as finances and cash flow, capitalising on the environment, tenancy options, raising capital and diversification.

Costing £50 for the full programme of sessions, the course will feature case studies and a range of tutors, including farmers, lecturers, land agents, solicitors and agricultural consultants.

Ms Aglionby said: “Today more than ever farmers in the uplands need to be able to capitalise on all the assets available to them. These range from growing productive grassland to running micro-hydro schemes, from marketing top quality lamb at least cost to attracting visitors to tea rooms and B&Bs.

“Overlaying all this is ensuring they are properly rewarded for maintaining and enhancing the natural environment the public value so highly. These assets will vary from farm to farm and at Newton Rigg College we educate and train students and farmers to maximise the potential of their individual business.”

Ms Aglionby described the Fresh Start academy as ‘an exciting development’.

“It will provide those wanting to start new businesses or take over existing family farms with the skills to manage cash flow, seek financial backing, optimise the balance of enterprises on their farm and apply for tenancies,” she said.

There are 20 places available for new Fresh Start course. Visit www.newton rigg.ac.uk/uplands/freshstart