John Duffy and Laura McGoran – Future Oak Farm

Farm overview:
John Duffy and Laura McGoran of Future Oak Farm manage 130 acres near Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal. The land which is divided into several blocks, is a mix of upland heath and grass rush, with the remainder in various stages of transition towards pioneer woodland. Farming a long-held family farm, they see themselves primarily as stewards working to regenerate both land and community. The farm operates as a suckler to beef system using predominantly Belted Galloway cattle, chosen for suitability to the environment. Animals remain outdoors year-round with no supplementary feeding or housing. They currently keep 12 cattle and there are plans to expand the herd to between 30-40 cattle over the coming years. Meat produced is sold to local customers – "Our goal is to feed ourselves first and our neighbours second, and the distribute the surplus after that."

Their approach is rooted in holistic and regenerative land management principles. They operate a holistic planned grazing system on their farm, whereby animals are moved strategically with long rest periods — allowing grassland, heath and emerging woodland habitats to recover and diversify. John emphasises ecosystem complexity as the main indicator of success for this type of faming system: healthier soils, better water cycling, greater plant species and, in turn, richer insect and bird life. Nature conservation is therefore not treated as a separate goal but as a symptom of good land management. They have observed increases in biodiversity on the land, most notably the return of the red squirrel, woodpecker, cuckoo flower and orchids.

Entrepreneurship and community are important elements of Future Oak Farm’s philosophy. They have developed a protein bar using wild Irish venison. They are highly committed to educating people about their farming system and land management practices – they run numerous courses, workshops and eco-education events on their farm to share their knowledge to people from all over the world. Laura and John are highly optimistic about their own farm’s future and hopeful that regenerative approaches can help strengthen Irish farming more broadly.

Nomination (Andrew Chilton, FFN Ambassador):
I would highly recommend John Duffy and Laura McGoran of Future Oak Farm in Donegal as potential Farming for Nature Ambassadors. Their work demonstrates that farming can be a powerful force for healing — of land, ecosystems and people. Their approach is rooted in regenerative and organic principles and guided by respect for natural systems, high standards of animal welfare and a clear, long-term commitment to ecological resilience.They manage their land holistically through planned grazing, moving cattle in a way that mirrors natural herd behaviour. This approach is actively rebuilding soil health, restoring biodiversity and contributing to carbon drawdown, while remaining practical and viable in challenging upland conditions. Animal welfare sits at the centre of their system. Their herd is fully out-wintered, grazed on diverse, species-rich pastures and never fed grain or artificial inputs. While this forage-only system is slower, it produces healthier, more nutrient-dense beef and supports the long-term health of the land. Crucially, the absence of costly external inputs also makes the system financially resilient and genuinely profitable. Their integrated farm design further strengthens good outcomes. An Agroforestry system provides shade, shelter and structured grazing lanes, while ponds promote and support biodiversity, assist to recharge the water table and supply passive drinking water for livestock. These elements are not treated as add-ons but are embedded within a coherent, well-functioning system. Community engagement and education are also central to John and Laura’s work. Be it through Social Farming, local partnerships, courses, volunteer opportunities and on-farm learning, they actively share knowledge, inspire action and help reconnect people with land, food and nature. They consistently demonstrate that it is possible to create farming systems that serve both the planet and people while generating income — and that these systems are achievable for other farmers. Beyond the farm boundary, John and Laura are also engaged in landscape-scale restoration through their work at Future Oak Farm. Parts of the farm border Glenveagh National Park. Here, they help manage wild deer populations as a critical intervention to allow native woodlands to regenerate naturally. This work highlights their systems-thinking approach and their understanding that successful regeneration often requires active management as well as protection. It also reinforces their commitment to restoring ecological balance at scale, not just within their own farm boundaries. John and Laura’s work is thoughtful, evidence-informed and deeply practical. They are youngsters, leading by example, showing that regenerative farming can be environmentally restorative, economically viable and socially meaningful, and I would strongly recommend them as progressive and forward thinking Farming for Nature Ambassadors!