Farming & Food

The landscape of the Forest of Bowland is the result of hundreds of years of human influence and farming has always been at the heart of the local economy.

Farming is going through a period of change in the Forest of Bowland, but the link between food producers and consumers remains intact, with a direct connection from field to fork.

The area’s resourceful hill farmers are responsible for building and maintaining the dry stone walls, wildflower meadows, country lanes and outlying barns that are so characteristic of Bowland.

The land has traditionally been managed for game hunting and farming since the middle ages and the large country estates have had a huge influence over the development of the area.

Farming remains an important aspect of the local economy. Sheep and beef farming dominate the upland areas; while dairy farming remains the major land use in the valleys.

Bowland is home to many of the county’s Lancashire cheese producers and the many variations on this young, tangy, dairy fresh cheese can be sampled at outlets across the area.

Local produce can be found in local specialist retailers and at the area’s regular markets in towns like Clitheroe and Bentham and many producers are increasingly opting to sell farm products direct to the customer from the farm gate.

Many Bowland farmers are very environmentally aware and are now using Environmental Stewardship to improve habitats for wildlife on their farms.

Some farmers are diversifying to find new ways of using the land – developing tourism facilities and other enterprises, such as business workspaces. Others are concentrating on their farming and finding ways to improve their income, for example by farming rare breeds, or producing their own boxed meat. 

To ensure the Forest of Bowland continues to thrive as a living landscape, farmers, landowners and visitors need to work closely with the AONB to conserve nature in Bowland.

Find a directory of artisan food producers in the Forest of Bowland here

steps lead up to the house with lush green garden

Cobden View self catering cottage

Cobden View cottage is set in its own grounds with glorious panoramic views of Sabden valley and Pendle Hill in the Forest of Bowland. Through its windows, you can also see sheep and cattle (plus some hens and geese) that ...
exterior old farmhouse

Higher Gills Farm

If you want a complete escape from the stress and strain of modern life, a holiday at Higher Gills Farm could be just what you need. Situated at the foot of Pendle Hill, Higher Gills Farm offers magnificent panoramic views ...
exterior farm building with red sky and sheep

Patty’s Barn

Patty's Barn is a collection of 10 self-catering cottages all full of character and original features. Situated on the edge of Morecambe Bay and just south of the bustling, historic city of Lancaster. With the great outdoors directly on the ...

The Rewilding

For big skies, wide open spaces and the perfect environment for rewilding yourself, head over to the windswept salt marshes of the Lancashire coast, where the Forest of Bowland meets the sea! After travelling the world with a high-powered job ...

Wild Fox Distillery

Deep in the heart of the Forest Bowland’s famed ‘Lancashire cheese triangle’, a traditional dairy farming family are ploughing their own furrow by producing a distinctive artisan gin with deep roots in the local landscape Founded in 2019 as part ...

Wood End Farm and Alpaca Experience

Our family have farmed here for over 100 years. It is a traditional hill farm, with beef and sheep, set in the beauty and tranquility of this unspoilt area in rural Lancashire. We believe in preserving the best of traditional ...