Kerry Eco-Social Farming Project EIP Final Report

The Kerry Eco-Social Farming EIP end-of-project report highlights how an established group of farmers in Kerry collaborated to deliver biodiversity benefits while fostering social inclusion within local communities. This innovative project connected farmers with individuals with additional needs and acquired brain injuries, enabling participants to engage in farm-based activities that combined nature conservation, education, and habitat management. Host farmers, representing various farm types and habitats, voluntarily offered their time to facilitate these activities, showcasing a model built on equality, social inclusion, volunteerism, and community collaboration. This unique approach strengthened connections between farmers and vulnerable community members, demonstrating resilience and innovation in eco-social farming practices. The project achieved significant outcomes, with 26 host farmers and 35 social farming participants engaging in nature-based actions that benefited local biodiversity, including birds, bats, semi-natural habitats, special areas of conservation, wild pollinators, and small mammals. A total of 185 training days were delivered, covering practical, nature-based actions and practices tailored to host farmers and participants, enhancing knowledge and skills valuable for farm development. The project created a meaningful intersection of social inclusion, community development, and biodiversity conservation by linking social farming with land-based nature enhancement. It stands as a model of how voluntary, community-led efforts can drive environmental and social benefits at a local level.