CAFRE & Teagasc Hill Farm Open Day

3rd September 10:00 – 16:00

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‘Walking the Talk’ – Showcasing the achievability of ecosystem services delivery at CAFRE CAFRE and Teagasc are hosting a joint Hill Farm Open Day at the CAFRE Hill Farm Centre, Glenwherry, Ballymena, Co. Antrim on Wednesday 3 September 2025. Tour groups will depart every 30 minutes beginning at 10:00 am, with the last tour leaving at 4:00 pm. During the tour of the Hill Farm, visitors will hear from a range of speakers about how integrated upland management delivers outcomes for everyone.

The tour will comprise of four stops:

Stop 1: Hill Sheep and Habitat Management

Speakers:
Eileen McCloskey, Senior Livestock Technologist, CAFRE
Michael Gottstein, Sheep Specialist, Teagasc
Merlin Becker, Glenwherry Moor Head keeper, Irish Grouse Conservation Trust

Visitors will hear details of the sheep systems used on the CAFRE Hill Farm and how they integrate with the management of the upland habitat.

Eileen, supported by Michael will highlight the importance both of animal type and also productivity, explaining how the grazing behaviour of our hill sheep can be used to manage and improve the habitat of the hill. Eileen will explain the impacts and adjustments that a clear and determined focus on habitat has made on the sheep enterprise at Glenwherry. Merlin will add to the discussion around describing the habitat we require for ground nesting birds and some of the other management practices employed to encourage their increased population on the hill.

Stop 2: Carbon balance in practice – reducing emissions

Speakers:
Elizabeth Earle, Senior Carbon Technologist, CAFRE
Phil Jordan, Professor of Catchment Science, Ulster University
Aaron Fox, Carbon Researcher, Teagasc

This stop will focus specifically on the emissions issue associated with peatland across Ireland using the Glenwherry site as a case study.

Elizabeth will outline the baseline and current carbon emission figures for the CAFRE Hill Farm, how these have been calculated and the effect restoration to date has made on the overall climate impact of the farm. She will outline our plans for future restoration and again the impact this will have on overall emissions generated by the farm. Phil will describe the research being carried out at the Glenwherry site, the unique and comprehensive approach being taken to measure carbon balance and how some of the findings can be used to better refine emission factors for peatland across the island of Ireland. Aaron will be available to provide further context for this discussion including insights on Teagasc’s carbon research projects.

top 3: Peatland restoration – Planning – Implementation – Management

Speakers:

Nicola Warden, Senior Biodiversity Technologist, CAFRE
Simon Gray, Head of Peatland Recovery, Ulster Wildlife
Patrick Browne, ACRES Adviser, Teagasc

Having heard about the carbon benefits of peatland restoration, visitors will have the chance at stop three to discuss how this can take place, the importance of having a plan and the multiple benefits habitat restoration can have in addition to the reduction of emissions.

Nicola will highlight some of the techniques used to restore peatland habitat on the CAFRE Hill Farm including the forest to bog project and others aimed at raising the water table. She will outline how restored areas have recovered and some of the many biodiversity benefits of restoration. Simon will add his experience from across a wide range of restoration projects explaining the steps before, during and after that make for the most successful outcomes. Patrick will provide the necessary context in ROI and be available to answer questions around what this all means for ACRES participants.

Stop 4: Hill Cattle and Habitat Recovery

Speakers:

Martin Kirk, Beef and Sheep Technologist, CAFRE
Stephen Magennis, Conservation Officer, RSPB

A project that began at Glenwherry with the single aim of creating a better habitat for breeding waders has resulted in multiple benefits for birds, the environment and the suckler cow enterprise at the CAFRE Hill Farm. At this stop Martin will outline how, through the use of virtual fencing, around one quarter of the CAFRE Hill Suckler herd are outwintered to create the ideal habitat for breeding waders.

Martin will briefly showcase the cow type, the importance of producing animals that will deliver a commercial carcase demanded by processors and the use of these animals in upland management to benefit biodiversity and deliver profit. Stephen will highlight the clear improvements in the breeding wader habitat that have been created through the grazing behaviour of the cattle and discuss the encouraging results coming from Glenwherry from the perspective of endangered bird species.

Additional information:
• The tour will take approximately 3½ hours to complete and will be a guided tour on buses. Participants will get off the bus at four points to hear from the speakers. There will be minimal walking required.
• Please dress for the weather. Please note it can be colder and windier when on the hill, warm outdoor and waterproof clothing is advised.
• Facilities will be available to purchase refreshments at the Hill Farm Centre and there will be a range of organisations exhibiting displays to visit while you wait for your tour to begin.

Using the registration link below, please book onto a specific time slot. If you do not book and you attend on the day, we will do our best to put you on the next available bus, but you may have to wait.

This Open Day promises to be a key knowledge transfer event for upland farmers, livestock managers, habitat and peatland researchers, advisers and practitioners.

The aim of the event is to bring environmental outcomes and livestock production in the uplands together as one, and prove to attendees that there is no conflict between the two.

You can book the event by visiting: CAFRE Teagasc Uplands Symposium - CAFRE Hill Farm Open Day Registration, Glenwherry | Eventbrite