About James Beecher

The Real Farming Trust’s Twinning programme has created four pairings between rural farms, and nearby urban projects supporting people struggling to access good food. Running since 2024 and supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, the programme explores what happens when you bring people together from previously unconnected communities, through farming. In this short 30 minute session, James Beecher – Manager of the Twinning programme – will talk about the benefits and impacts of doing this sort of work as well as the barriers, and the experiences people have had as they try to overcome them. James will be joined by Matt Williams from Jubilee Farm in Larne, which has been part of the programme.

James Beecher works for the Real Farming Trust, which believes that everyone has the right to good food. The Real Farming Trust supports the empowerment of small-scale farmers and food producers who bypass the industrial farming system by offering good food direct to communities through local supply chains. James works in the Food Justice team, as the manager of the Twinning Programme – which connects rural farms and urban projects.