Donegal sheep and tillage farmer Boyd Bryce to host Farm Walk

Farming for Nature Ambassador Boyd Bryce will host a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of a nature-friendly farm on the Inishowen peninsula. 

As a proud recipient of the Farming for Nature Ambassador title in 2019, the Inch Island farmer’s approach to farming intertwines wildlife conservation with everyday farming practices. Over many decades, he has created a harmonious balance between farm viability and an abundance of habitats for nature. 

On his active sheep and tillage farm, he has implemented various measures for nature over the years. His distinguished career includes rearing and releasing grey partridges, establishing wildlife habitats, and leading community initiatives aimed at fostering biodiversity. 

On display during the walk will be lush pastures, diverse woodlands, sensitively managed shorelines, ponds and much more. Attendees will witness firsthand how Boyd and his wife, Bride, have spent a lifetime enhancing their land for nature. Boyd has consistently pioneered and proactively demonstrated that nature and farming work hand in glove and are not mutually exclusive. 

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"Leave your hedges ... a hedge without berries or blossom isn’t a hedge but a bundle of sticks,” Boyd emphasises, embodying his belief that every nook and cranny of farmland holds the potential to flourish with life.

The guided farm walk will be filled with humour, storytelling and insightful, engaging discussions, as Boyd shares his remarkable journey in wildlife conservation.  Discover native woodlands with carpets of Bluebells growing underneath, vibrant wetlands, and flourishing hedgerows—all vital habitats that Boyd has worked tirelessly to sustain and enhance. Learn about Boyd’s innovative projects, such as the ‘Hidden Pools’ initiative, which revitalised wetland areas, providing new habitats for countless species.

Boyd’s commitment to nature hasn’t just enriched his land; it has cultivated a community ethos around conservation. Together with local organisations, he has been central to nature conservation on Inch Island. Join us as Boyd shares stories of the successful reintroduction of grey partridges and other species resulting from collective community efforts.

The farm walk will take place on Sunday, May 18, at 2pm. Tickets cost €12, with all proceeds reinvested into the farming community. Tickets can be purchased here.  This farm walk is a part of a larger project funded by the Shared Island initiative awarded to Farming for Nature by the Department of An Taoiseach. This project is run in collaboration with the Nature Friendly Farming Network in Northern Ireland.