Farm walk: Practical change, not perfect change

Farm Walk: Practical Change, Not Perfect Change at Neidpath Farms (Beef & Sheep)

With Matt Griffin, Farm Manager (Neidpath Farms)

In partnership with Scottish Borders Climate Action Network

Join us for an informal, practical farm walk at Neidpath Farms with farm manager Matt Griffin. Matt will share an honest, ground-truth look at the farm’s beef and sheep systems — including where they’ve tested elements of more regenerative and resource-efficient farming and, importantly, where things haven’t gone to plan.

This is a chance to hear what’s been learned the hard way, see the systems in the field, and chat with other farmers, crofters, growers and smallholders about what’s working (and what isn’t) in a Borders context. Expect open conversation, practical observations, and plenty of time for questions.

What we’ll cover:

• A brief welcome and what attendees want to get from the session
• A walk through the farm with Matt, focusing on:
• Beef and sheep systems and how they’re managed
• Trials, tweaks, and “regenerative-ish” approaches that have been attempted
• What’s gone wrong, what’s been learned, and what Matt would do differently
• Back indoors for informal discussion, shared reflections, and time to speak with others one-to-one

Who it’s for

Open to all (including non-members), with priority for active farmers, crofters, growers, and smallholders in the region or nearby.

Date & timings

Tuesday 31 March 2026

1:30pm — Arrive / tea, coffee and cake

2:00pm — Farm walk begins

3:00–3:30pm — Wrap-up discussion, tea/coffee and cake and close

Practical info (please read)

Footwear: Please bring wellies/walking boots and dress for the weather.

Biosecurity: Due to current bird flu precautions, we’ll provide a footbath on site — please use it on arrival and before leaving.

Refreshments: Tea, coffee and cake provided.

Format: Informal, friendly, and discussion-led — come with questions.

Location: Neidpath Farms, Scottish Borders (joining details / meeting point will be shared after booking).

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Matt Griffin is the Farm Manager at Neidpath Farms in the Scottish Borders, running a practical beef and sheep system with a focus on making the farm more resilient and efficient. He’s spent the last few years testing and tweaking a range of “regenerative-ish” approaches in the real world — keeping what works, binning what doesn’t, and learning fast from the mistakes. Matt’s known for being refreshingly honest about the trade-offs, the realities on the ground, and what he’d do differently next time.

Day delivered in partnership with Scottish Borders Cliamte Action Network

Also check out other Meetups in Peebles.