The focus of the research for FAAN in the UK was the AAFNs of the North West of England. This is a region which encompasses the urban conurbation of Greater Manchester, the administrative counties of Lancashire and Cumbria and the protected landscape of the Lake District national park. Within this region there was a further focus upon two specific locations – The City of Manchester and the rural country of Cumbria.

Historical and environmental features of North West England
The city of Manchester and the surrounding county of Lancashire have been greatly influenced by the cotton industry. By the 1830s, approximately 85% of all cotton manufactured worldwide was processed in Lancashire (Gibb, 2005). Today Manchester has a population of 2.25 million and is the UK’s third largest urban conurbation (ONS, 2005)

To the north, Cumbria is very different with a population of only 500,000. The mountainous landscape is predominantly rural and home to the Lake District National Park. Whilst upland hill farming is the predominant feature of the landscape, today more income is derived from the tourism industry.

The climate of the North West of England is wetter than some other parts of the country as it is exposed to the Gulf Stream. This means frosts are rarer, but sunshine hours are also lower relative to the south east of England. This climate, together with the northern section of the region being mountainous (the Lake District), has meant that current agriculture is predominantly based on livestock rather than horticulture or arable production.
Reasons for choosing this region and key dimensions to investigate

Urban/rural differences
We expected that the different grades of urbanisation may have given rise to physically different AAFNs with differing motivations and methods of operating. We also expected these differences to shed light on the reasons, values and perspectives of shifting the local economic systems into a more rural-based agricultural paradigm.

AAFNs versus industrialised agriculture
Industrial agriculture has reduced the region’s diversity of agriculture, especially a shift to predominantly livestock farming, with little horticulture and almost no arable production, except in northern Cumbria. We anticipated that AAFNs may be providing an outlet for horticultural production that would not be profitable via more conventional outlets; thus the development of AAFNs may give rise to a more diverse agriculture in the region.

Diverse initiatives and organisations involved within the Northwest.
The project identified a wide diversity of groups and organisations to study. For example, groups with direct public/governmental support versus more grassroots/radical and independent initiatives. This diversity provided interesting opportunities for comparisons, including;

• the already apparent different motivations driving the initiatives;
  
• the type of initiatives undertaken by different interest groups and the way they correlate, their links with broader initiatives and governmental policies;
  
• the interactions between the networks within each area and broader relationships within the North West.
  

As an example beyond formal policy, the Soil Association has a Food for Life Partnership, ‘a network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture’ (www.foodforlife.org.uk). This involves several schools in Cumbria and Manchester

Having explored each of the localities and identifying a number of the initiatives taking place within them, a selection were interviewed. The list of interviewees emphasises producers, retailers and support bodies, especially public agencies. In both case studies, consumers are not organised as such, so there was no reason or basis to interview them as representing a wider social category. An exception is some Manchester participants who are producers-as-consumers. Interviews were carried out in a semi-structured way, based on the standard questions in the FAAN protocol.

Interviewees
After an initial internet search, it was important to find out more details about the activities taking place and the views of the people involved in AAFNs in each case study.
It was not possible to interview someone from all the different types of businesses or projects that exist. Instead the aim was to capture a broad a range of views and experiences. The interviewees represented the following businesses and initiatives;

CUMBRIA
Most of the interviewees in Cumbria are registered as organic or biodynamic, but not all AAFNs follow these rules or are registered as such. The choice of who to interview was often a result of those organisations which are more visible and who was willing to give time to the project.
Hadrian Organics – a farmers co-operative, all members are within sight of Hadrian’s Wall and are organic.
Growing Well – a community enterprise that grows and sells organic vegetables whilst providing volunteer opportunities for those recovering from mental health activities.
Low Sizergh Barn – an organic diary farm that encompasses a farm shop and café.
Cumbria Organics – network of organic farmers, providing support and projects to develop organic food and agriculture in the county.
Cumbria Farmer Network – a support network for farmers running a range of educational, and marketing initiatives.
Little Salkeld Mill – a watermill that grinds English wheat. Both bread and wheat are available for direct sale at their shop and café.
Howbarrow Farm – grows organic vegetables and runs a box scheme offering a range or local and organic produce.

MANCHESTER
Glebelands Market Garden – grows and sells predominantly leafy and salad crops within Greater Manchester.
Unicorn Manchester’s Co-operative Grocery – the prime seller of Glebeland’s produce. A whole food worker co-op in south Manchester.
Manchester Food Futures – aims to create a culture of good food in the city. This includes access to healthy sustainably produced food, and what to do with it (cooking etc.).
Manchester Permaculture Network – provides a local network for people developing permaculture initiatives.
Valuing Older People Team, Manchester Joint Health Unit – Using food growing as a way to improve the quality of life for older people.
Action For Sustainable Living – a charity that helps people to live more sustainably, focusing on simple changes that will make the world a better place to live in.
HELF Partnership – aims to develop a city wide social enterprise engaging young people and adults with mental health issues, in healthy local food activities, in order to improve skills, confidence and overall health.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Group – a collection of grass-roots groups living, working and campaigning for a more sustainable Manchester
Herbie Fruit and Veg Van – provides a good selection of affordable, fresh produce to communities adversely affected by the closure of small local shops.
Dig Vegetable Box Scheme – a vegetable box scheme in the city of Manchester sourcing local and organic produce.
Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) – developing sustainable food sourcing policies for public.
Association of Manchester Allotments Societies – manages the allotments in Manchester