What does GAP do?
GAP exists to provide a first point of contact for information, advice and networking support to anyone with an interest in grazing with our natural environment and our cultural heritage in mind.
GAP does not duplicate work undertaken by the many individuals and organisations involved in farming, conservation and land-management. Instead GAP provides the means by which that knowledge, experience and good practice can be easily sign-posted, accessed and made available to as many people as possible.
GAP’s Website
Stock Keep
Stock Keep is a practical database that allows users to register the details of their animals or the availability of their land for grazing. The web pages are free and easy to use.
Register your details and search for free.
To advertise your products or company on Stock Keep contact Tony Prior tony@antsweb.co.uk
GAP Map Tool
View details and case studies of grazing schemes around the UK.
Search the map for grazing schemes around the UK
Or click here to read about grazing and grasslands on a global scale
Ready Reckoner and Habitat Composer
The Ready Reckoner is a grazing costing tool that allows graziers and land managers to calculate grazing costs for a wide variety of land management scenarios. Habitat composer is a visual tool that allows site managers and advisers to compose a picture of potential changes to the habitat from grazing management.
Publications
A wide range of information leaflets, handbooks, good practice guides and news items are available from the GAP website. Previous issues of GAP News our quarterly newsletter can be downloaded from the GAP News Archive.
Visit the publications section of the website to view our information arranged by topic.
Nibblers
Nibblers is GAP’s online discussion forum and provides a means for networking and information sharing on every conceivable grazing topic.
Click here to find out about joining and view previous discussions.
Training
GAP Courses
GAP runs a training programme of short practical courses that are accredited by Lantra. The two courses GAP provides are the Livestock Checkers (lookers) course and Conservation Grazing in Practice.
GAP Workshops
As a partnership organisation GAP is in contact and works with a variety of organisations, charities and government agencies. GAP currently runs joint workshops with Flora Locale. These one day workshops combine advice from practitioners in the field with relevant site visits.
Traineeships
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant of £260,121 under its Skills for the Future programme to the Grazing Advice Partnership to set up and run a three-year nationwide programme of six and twelve month traineeship placements.
The aim will be to offer trainees a mix of ‘on the job’ work experience and instruction in the practical skills associated with livestock handling and conservation grazing.
Trainees will receive a bursary to meet living expenses, mentoring support and access to GAP training courses. Placements will be arranged with a range of leading traditional livestock farms and conservation grazing schemes and are expected to commence early in 2011
Read more about GAP courses and workshops.
Conferences and study tours
GAP recently held a joint conference with Devon Wildlife Trust on Reconnecting Fragmented Landscapes in Exeter from September 22nd to September 24th 2009.
GAP has continued involvement with grazing projects on an international scale. Previous GAP study tours have included visits to Holland and Poland.
Click here to view our calendar of Events.
