Rowan’s Conservation Grazing Project
A grant from The Clan Trust’s Neech Fund has enabled young Norfolk farmer Rowan to trial innovative technology close to home, helping her develop her flock while exploring new ways to support local conservation.
After graduating from the University of East Anglia, Rowan began her career in farm consultancy with Ceres Rural, supporting local farmers with advice and guidance. Alongside her professional role, she has been building her own small flock of sheep since 2022, a passion she discovered during her education.
Coming from a non-farming background, her first experience of agriculture came during college work experience, and it was there that her love for sheep really began. From those first lambing days, she has gone on to gain experience across different farms and sectors, from livestock to fresh produce, before shaping a career in consultancy. Throughout it all, her ambition to grow her own flock has remained at the heart of her journey.
With grazing opportunities limited, and many areas of Norfolk tricky to fence, Rowan looked for a practical solution that would allow her flock to thrive. That’s when she discovered GPS ‘NoFence’ collars: smart technology that creates a virtual boundary for sheep. The collars guide animals with gentle sound cues, and if needed, a mild pulse, helping them learn where to graze safely. Linked to a mobile app, they also give Rowan peace of mind, letting her check in on her flock wherever she is.
With support from a Neech Fund grant, Rowan has been able to invest in 10 collars, along with chargers and spare batteries, giving her the tools to bring this project to life. She has already started trialling the technology with her flock in secure paddocks, gradually preparing them for use on larger, more open areas of land.
The grant has allowed Rowan to take a big step forward with her flock, giving her the chance to trial technology she would have been unable to fund alone. It means she can continue developing her project while balancing her consultancy career, and at the same time, explore new opportunities for conservation grazing here in Norfolk.
Rowan’s project is about much more than saving time. By using the collars, she hopes to unlock new grazing opportunities on areas of land that are often difficult to manage, such as heathland or the Norfolk broads. Many of these sites are classed as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), where careful conservation grazing can play an important role in protecting biodiversity. By working with sheep, and potentially alongside other animals such as goats, Rowan aims to support healthier habitats, encourage wild plants to flourish, and bring wider environmental benefits.
Based in North Norfolk, Rowan is keen to explore how her flock could help manage important conservation sites in partnership with local parish councils. Looking further ahead, she hopes conservation grazing can become part of her advisory work too - demonstrating how livestock farming, when managed innovatively, can support both the environment and the rural economy.
The Clan Trust is proud to support new entrants like Rowan through the Neech Fund, helping her, and others, bring fresh ideas into farming. By backing projects that combine innovation, environmental care, and a passion for the countryside, the Trust is investing in Norfolk’s rural future and the people who will shape it.