Soil at Sizergh

14 February - 1 November, 10:30am-4:30pm

Travel underground to the murky, muddy earth where it’s dark and damp but bursting with life. Designed with Nosy Crow, this family friendly trail takes you along the Holeslack trail where you'll delve deeper into the magical, marvellous world of soil.

Brought to you by kind permission of the publisher, Nosy Crow.

The trail is free, but admission applies.

14 February - 1 November, 10:30am-4:30pm

Discover documentary photographer Joanne Coates's powerful exhibition about women in agriculture in Holeslack barn.

Together, these portraits and landscapes create a deeply human narrative about identity, place, and the unseen labour that sustains rural life. This exhibition focuses on the women working the land in South Lakeland.

The exhibition is free, but admission applies.

14 February - 1 November, 10:30am-4:30pm

Head to the Great Barn to see an exhibition from a creative collective of local and national artists, inspired by soil. Artists include Mariana Heilmann, Wim van Egmond and Elizabeth Clough.

Guided Walk: Daughters of the Soil - 14 March, 11am-1pm

Join us for an inspiring guided walk with acclaimed photographer Joanne Coates, as we explore her site-specific works Daughters of the Soil.

Call Sizergh's reception to book your free place.

Summer Daze: Cyanotype Workshop and Guided Walk - 20 June, 2-4pm

Join award-winning photographer Joanne Coates for a midsummer walk and cyanotype workshop.

Call Sizergh's reception to book your free place.

Guided Walk: Harvest Reflections - 26 September, 2-4pm

Join Joanne Coates for a walk and talk discussing her Daughters of the Soil work — how farming, land, labour and image co-exist. You will set off on a guided walk through the fields, hedgerows and a place that hosts a working farm during the harvest period.

Joanne will prompt observation of seasonal change, patterns of work, and how you might capture or sketch the moment. Along the way, you're welcome to photograph or sketch.

Call Sizergh's reception to book your free place.

Understanding soil is the first step to protecting it.

Head to the British Society of Soil Science to learn about the science behind soil and its role in our ecosystems.

At Pasture for Life, discover how pasture-fed farming supports soil health and biodiversity.

Local research by Lancaster University delves into soil, farming, and climate.

Whether it’s a garden, window box, allotment or school grounds, growing your own food can help to reduce pressure of farmland, improve soil health and connect people with nature.

Composting turns food scraps and garden waste into rich, nutritious soil. It keeps waste out of landfill, reduces methane emmissions and feeds the soil with organic matter.

Head to Compost Connect for some composting top tips.

Food waste puts pressure on soil by increasing demand for farming. In the UK, we throw away 9.5 million tonnes of food every year.

To learn how to waste less, head to Love Food Hate Waste.

Waste into Wellbeing is a volunteer-led project in Kendal. Surplus food is turned into delicious meals at Kendal People’s Café or shared through the community larder. They also run a community kitchen offering training and social events.

Supporting local, sustainable farms also helps protect soil and reduce food miles. For example, Kristian Smith sells beef from Park End Wetland, and Low Sizergh Barn has a fantastic farm shop full of local produce.

Growing Well is a charity based at Low Sizergh, helping people recover through horticulture. They run a crop share scheme offering regular boxes of organic veg.