We are two friends, Chrissie and Jane, and we care deeply about the environment, and about local, sustainable food and a resilient local community. We've been lucky enough to have been offered the lease of a community-owned field near our village, and are about to start a demonstration project to show how, even on the wet, acidic soils of this part of Britain, Holistic management can restore soil life and biodiversity, nurture wildlife, sequester carbon in the soil, and contribute to a resilient local food network. We have the energy and enthusiasm and plenty of knowledge, now we just need some funding to get us started!

This type of land restoration works on the natural principle of grazing with many animals for a very short time, allowing the grass to recover fully between grazings - as on natural prairies where herds pass over a few times a year and the grass grows lush and tall. Here's another short video that explains the principle in 60 Seconds - and check out the charming videos on the Sailean Croft site, practising the same method on Lismore Island, off the west coast of Scotland. We want to demonstrate that agriculture on a small scale can be restorative to the land instead of destructive, and have the vision of a diverse, flowering meadow swarming with insects and butterflies, with cows munching contentedly and abundant bird life all around.

We have energy, enthusiasm and knowledge (and WWOOFers!) and now we need capital. Your generous donations will enable us to get fencing in place for our Shetland cattle and Soay sheep, create a flexible water supply and build a barn for overwintering and storage. Follow our progress on my blog!