Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme - Cotswolds
Supporting a farmer led transition
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Introduction
The transition to a regenerative farming future is a deep and complex journey. High levels of motivation, knowledge and confidence are required to successfully put the key principles into practice. The barriers and journey can be overwhelming, and pioneers can feel isolated. The evidence base is still evolving - it can feel like a leap of faith at times and risks have to be taken.
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All farms and farmers are different and everyone is at a different stage of the journey. While there are a small number of regenerative farming heroes doing great things and leading the way, many farmers in the Cotswolds are taking their first and second steps.
How can we speed and deepen the transition in our region? How can we support those taking their first steps and those that feel isolated? How can we share knowledge and amplify good practice? How can we inspire and facilitate others? How can we build a regenerative community?
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One solution is a high impact regenerative agriculture accelerator programme designed for, and run by, regenerative farmers and advisers in the Cotswolds.
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The Programme
The Regenerative Agriculture Accelerator Programme Cotswolds (RAAPC) is an innovative and intensive programme for local farmers and advisers.
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Our mission is to accelerate and deepen the adoption of regenerative farming practice and agroecological thinking in the Cotswolds, improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity and building resilience.
Specifically we aim to:
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Build a confident and innovative agroecological and regenerative farming community in the Cotswolds.
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Connect pioneers with those taking their first and second important steps.
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Facilitate high impact peer to peer learning and mentoring.
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Introduce and share specialist knowledge.
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Communicate agroecological and regenerative farming principles, practices and stories to a wider audience.
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We launched in the spring of 2024 with a pilot cohort of 25. We added a second cohort of 25 in 2025. We are now planning additional cohorts in 2026 and 2027.
Participants apply and are selected based on likely benefit and impact.
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Activities
We organise knowledge events for participants throughout the year meeting once or twice a month. These events include:
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Farm walks on participants farms
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Farm walks on other leading farms
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Introductory and deep dive workshops
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Online webinar sessions
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Agronomy clinics
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The annual Cotswolds Regenerative Agriculture Conference
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Over the last two years we have had sessions with Gabe Brown, Allen Williams, Carolyn Grindrod, Niels Corfield, Tim Williams, Tim Parton and Anna Jones to name just a few, exploring a diverse range subjects from soil health, biological farming and regenerative grazing to communication and facilitation.
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We take our community to relevant shows and events such as the Groundswell Regenerative Farming Festival and the Oxford conferences.
Participants also benefit from one to one mentoring and advice, and support with land matching.
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Facilitation
The programme was founded and is facilitated by award winning farmer and advisor, Jonty Brunyee. It is hosted by the Cotswold National Landscape team.
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Bioregional Scale
Participants come from across the Cotswolds bioregion. Many are involved in their local farmer cluster or facilitated group joining RAAP to focus on agroecology and regenerative agriculture, going deeper. RAAP can be seen as a 'thematic cluster' that overlays and supplements our other farmer led networks.
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Costs and Funding
The bulk of the programme is free to participants. Charges are only made for special events.
The programme has been funded by a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant administered by Cotswold National Landscape. Additional sponsorship was provided by Regenerate Outcomes in year one.
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Funding to further develop the programme between 2026 and 2028 has recently been secured from the Rothschilds Foundation.
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Get Involved
We will be launching the next phase of RAAP at our conference in March 2026. More information will be posted here soon after.