Uplands Events
Uplands Symposium and Open Day- September 2nd and 3rd, 2025
Joint CAFRE and Teagasc for a Sustainable Upland Livestock and Habitat Management Symposium.
On Wednesday September 3rd there is a joint CAFRE/Teagasc Hill Farm Open Day at Hill Farm Centre, Glenwherry, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Tuesday September 2nd
Theme: “Science in the uplands – guiding the delivery of ecosystem services”.
A recording of the presentations shared by the speakers on the day can be viewed in the video below.
| Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Martin McKendry – DAERA Deputy Secretary Prof. Frank O’Mara – Teagasc Director |
| Strategic Overview of the CAFRE Hill Farm | Mark Scott – CAFRE |
| Teagasc Engagement in the Uplands | Dr. Catherine Keena – Teagasc |
| Peatland Carbon Balance – The Glenwherry Perspective | Prof. Phil Jordan – Ulster University |
| Lessons from Scottish Uplands | Prof. Davy McCracken – SRUC |
| Habitat Condition Monitoring at the CAFRE Hill Farm | Dr. Declan O’Mahony – AFBI |
| Panel Discussion – Chaired by Dr. Saorla Kavanagh – Teagasc | Saorla will facilitate a panel discussion, taking questions from the floor for Catherine, Phil, Davy and Declan. |
| Closing Remarks | Dr. Stan Lalor – Teagasc |
Wednesday September 3rd
CAFRE and Teagasc Hill Farm Open Day – Hill Farm Centre, Glenwherry, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Theme: ‘Walking the Talk’ – Showcasing the achievability of ecosystem services delivery at CAFRE
Tour groups will depart every 30 minutes beginning at 10:00 am, with the last tour leaving at 4:00 pm. During the tour of the Hill Farm, visitors will hear from a range of speakers about how integrated upland management delivers outcomes for everyone.
The tour will comprise of four stops:
- Hill Sheep and Habitat Management
- Carbon balance in practice – reducing emissions
- Peatland restoration – Planning – Implementation – Management
- Hill Cattle and Habitat Recovery