Cora Cooper, an Ayrshire sheep farmer who runs a hill farm in Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, has been named the Sustainability Champion at the National Women In Agriculture awards ceremony in London. She described the recognition as an incredible honour and a proud moment for Scottish hill farming.
Cora is a key member of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) Scotland and serves as the organisation's vice chair. She is a first-generation farmer who works alongside her husband David, raising native-breed Herdwick and Welsh Mountain sheep on 5,000 acres of land.
Nature-Friendly Farming Practices
Her approach includes an adaptive mob grazing system where sheep are regularly rotated through paddocks to allow the land sufficient recovery time between grazing sessions. She has also restored 2,000 acres of peatland across the farm, which boosts biodiversity and helps sequester carbon to combat climate change.
Speaking about the award, Cora said: “It is an incredible honour to receive this award, and a proud moment for a Scottish hill farm to be recognised on a national stage in London. This recognition highlights the essential role hill farming plays in supporting biodiversity, helping tackle climate change, and safeguarding food security for future generations. As a mum of three, it also means so much to show my children that with passion, hard work and belief in what you do, you really can achieve amazing things.”
Leadership in NFFN Scotland
As vice chair and member of the NFFN Scotland steering group, Cora supports the farmer-led organisation's mission to make nature-friendly farming the norm across Scotland. The group organises knowledge-sharing events where farmers learn from those already operating sustainably, and lobbies politicians and policymakers for a viable future for Scottish food and farming.
Nim Kibbler, NFFN Scotland manager, said: “We are absolutely thrilled for Cora, and this national recognition is incredibly well deserved. Cora is a fantastic example of how Scottish hill farming can lead the way in tackling climate change and boosting biodiversity, all while running a viable and productive business. Through her dedication to restoring peatlands and managing her grazing thoughtfully, she proves that working alongside nature is not just an idealistic ambition; it is a practical and rewarding reality. Having Cora as one of our vice chairs is a privilege, and her success shines a brilliant light on what can be achieved when passion meets hard work on the hills.”
Call for Support Package
NFFN Scotland is calling for a comprehensive support package to help farmers transition from systems reliant on high levels of inputs like chemical fertilisers and bought-in feed to ones that work with nature and make space for biodiversity while maintaining yields.
