Rural Links is an integral part of the Westmorland Agricultural Society. Its purpose is to help bring about a better understanding of the Countryside and how it operates.

The fabric of the Countryside is made up of diverse ranges of businesses, organisations and cultures both new and old, which have evolved and interlink to create what is known as the 'Rural Community'.
To many from outside or new to this environment it is not easy to understand what is happening or why? It is also true that many people who have long been part of and take for granted things that go on in the Countryside don't understand why others might not be sympathetic to their views.
Rural links aims by improving peoples understanding and awareness of rural matters to avoid discord.

It is also its desire that by linking (hence the name) with other Rural organisations and groups there will be greater coordination of time and resources while at the same time enhancing the knowledge which groups have of one another.

To this end Rural works with schools, hold seminars, takes part in 'teaching days' and help create resource material in order to bring the Countryside and Rural matters into the classroom. It also maintains a growing resource centre with internet links which will set the scene for an expanding network of information, not only about rural skills , issues and developments, but also about national and global concerns.

Rural Links is involved with :

• I.T. training, enabling people in the community to learn new skills.

• Practical courses such as welding, machinery maintenance and sheep shearing.

• Running courses and holding seminars to introduce people to new topics and skills and has a mobile food-processing unit enabling people to try their hands at diversification.

• The Society is actively involved with Leader Plus, Distinctly Cumbrian and Cumbrian RAZ.

Rural Links enables the WCAS to help fulfil it's role as an Agricultural Society working on behalf of, and with it's members to enable them and their neighbours in the Rural Community to move forward and maintain what has always been a vibrant way of life.