The Ure Dales Trustmark
A landscape-level producer assurance that recognises delivery, rewards progression, and carries the dales into the market with credibility.
Why a Trustmark
The Ure Dales Trustmark is a producer assurance scheme attached to the . It signals to buyers, consumers, funders, and communities that a holding is delivering measurable alongside food and land-based livelihoods.
It is not a certification in the or Marque sense — though it borrows heavily from their audit disciplines. It is a landscape-level producer assurance with three tiers that recognise progression over time.
Not certification — recognition.
Three-tier pathway
Bronze Tier
Commitment, delivery, .
The credible starting point. Not a lesser tier — the foundation.
Silver Tier
Systemic stewardship, scheme engagement.
Delivering beyond baseline. Carrying the Trustmark with weight.
Gold Tier
Exemplary landscape recovery.
Earned, not allocated. Whole-system recovery and scheme citizenship.
How tiers are awarded
The Audit and Standards Committee (chaired by EQM) awards tiers on a three-yearly cycle. Year 1: baseline audit leads to Bronze. Year 3: full audit may confirm Bronze or award Silver. Progression to Gold follows the same three-year rhythm. Holdings cannot skip tiers — progression is earned over time.
In relation to other assurance schemes
| Scheme | What it covers | Relationship to Trustmark |
|---|---|---|
| Red Tractor | Welfare, food safety | Assumed at Bronze |
| LEAF Marque | Integrated farm management | Aligned, stacks at Silver/Gold |
| Pasture for Life | Grazing system | Aligned, required at Gold |
| EQM | Peak District landscape mark | Philosophically aligned; EQM chairs our audit |
| Soil Association Organic | Organic product certification | Separate, stacks on top |
What this means for your holding
Entry is at Bronze. No holding is expected to start at Silver or Gold. Progression is earned over three-year cycles and cannot skip tiers. Your existing assurances (Red Tractor, LEAF) count — the trustmark stacks on top, it does not replace what you already have.