Early stage planning, research, learning about regenerative methods, regulations, grants, and initial decision making before moving to the UK.
Starting any farm involves risk. Starting a small regenerative soft fruit farm at 58, in a new country, with a strict is even more challenging. While I’m optimistic about Beagle Rock Farms, I’ve been spending serious time thinking about what could go wrong. Ignoring risks doesn’t make them disappear,it only leaves you unprepared when they … Read more
he new SFI 2026 rules are finally here. On 2 June 2026, DEFRA released the near-final details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026, and the changes are more significant than many expected. For anyone planning or running a small regenerative farm in the UK, especially new entrants working with tight budgets, understanding these updates is … Read more
Challenges, Land Prices & New Entrants Farming in the UK in 2026 is facing significant challenges. Rising costs, extreme weather, policy changes, and an ageing farming population are putting pressure on existing farmers while also shaping the landscape for new entrants. This article looks at the current state of farming in the UK including the … Read more
A realistic 3-year roadmap for starting a regenerative soft fruit farm on 8–20 acres in the UK, strawberries as the core crop, PYO revenue goals, beekeeping, and artisan value-added products. Planning a regenerative soft fruit farm in the UK from scratch with a tight budget is both exciting and daunting. With a target land size … Read more
Practical ways regenerative farming can help UK farmers fight back against rising taxes, wages, and regulatory costs. UK farmers are under growing financial pressure. Government policies have increased National Insurance rates, repeatedly raised the National Living Wage, introduced major changes to Inheritance Tax on farmland, and sharply reduced direct payments. At the same time, farmers … Read more
What the Research Actually Shows Soil health has become one of the most important topics in modern agriculture. Years of intensive farming have degraded soils across many regions, leading to reduced fertility, poor water retention, and increasing reliance on chemical inputs. Regenerative farming is gaining attention because it promises to reverse this damage. But what … Read more
Discover the best soft fruit varieties that thrive in UK conditions while supporting regenerative principles and delivering strong yields. Choosing the right soft fruit varieties is one of the most important early decisions when starting a regenerative farm in the UK. The wrong choice can lead to poor yields, high disease pressure, and constant struggle … Read more
My £20k Budget Breakdown When my wife agreed to let me start a farm as a condition of moving back to Britain, she set a very clear limit: no more than £20,000 for startup costs, excluding the cost of buying land. That number has become the central constraint of The Challenge, starting Beagle Rock Farms … Read more
Bees on a Regenerative Farm One of the first major decisions I made while planning Beagle Rock Farms was that bees would not be an afterthought. In regenerative farming, bees are central to the entire system. They are true ecosystem engineers that drive pollination success, support soil health, boost biodiversity, and help create a resilient … Read more
If you’re just starting to learn about regenerative farming, it’s easy to think it’s some brand-new, trendy idea that people invented recently. In reality, regenerative farming is one of the oldest ways humans have worked with the land. What feels new is that we’re finally coming back to these ancient principles after decades of industrial … Read more