Couple turning inherited farm into nature site — SkimNews
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Jessie Roper inherited Greenbank Farm in Cumbria after her father Jim Parkin's sudden death in 2023 and decided to return with her husband Joe Roper instead of selling.
- Joe Roper moved to the farm with no prior farming experience and faced extreme challenges including a flooded cellar, frozen pipes, and a broken tractor during their first winter.
- Greenbank Farm previously operated as a dairy and beef farm but now generates income through field rentals and a 30-year agreement with Environment Bank.
- Environment Bank is partnering with the couple on a biodiversity restoration project using traditional hay cuts and cattle grazing as long-term management tools.
- Jessie and Joe Roper receive guaranteed lease payments and management fees from Environment Bank, providing financial stability compared to unpredictable traditional farming profits.
- Anne Gray, senior land manager at Environment Bank, states such projects offer secure income while supporting environmental outcomes and rural economies amid UK biodiversity loss.
Why it matters: The 30-year guaranteed income from Environment Bank reduces financial risk for the couple compared to volatile farming yields, enabling land stewardship that supports biodiversity while maintaining rural economic activity—offering a replicable model for other struggling farms facing uncertain futures.
Ask SkimNews
