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Refresh!FARMING AND THE RIVERS
Since November 2002, the Farming and the Rivers project has worked with farmers and the wider community in an effort to enhance knowledge and understanding of many farming and environmental issues. These include:
- Raising the awareness of the wildlife and landscape value of the rivers in the LEADER+ area
- Assisting farmers to farm in an environmentally sensitive way to enhance the quality and biodiversity of the Herefordshire rivers and bank-sides
- Helping the community understand more about the farming and wildlife issues of the river
- Enhancing farmers skills in habitat management
- Demonstrating opportunities for work in conservation
- Giving intellectual access to farming and conservation by gaining knowledge through the written medium
The project team is achieving these aims through farm walks and discussion evenings, directed at communities local to the theme of the event and the Parish (although they are open to all) and farmers. Other, more specific, provisions are being made in the effort of enhancing knowledge.
Free farm visits and whole farm plans are being offered to farmers and landowners in the LEADER+ area. These are conducted by FWAG Farm Conservation Advisors, of which there are three. A detailed report of the farm highlights areas of wildlife habitat, gives suggestions on protection and enhancement of these habitats, even including advice on pollution prevention and compliance with statutory environmental legislation.
Free habitat management training is aimed at farmers and landowners, which includes practical training with supporting literature. Information is also provided to local communities about work opportunities in the environmental field, and there is access to the FWAG website.
About FWAG
The Herefordshire Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) is part of a national organisation. FWAG is a farmer-led organisation, which provides professional farm conservation advice on all agri-environment issues through its team of Farm Conservation Advisers.
FWAG advises on all sizes of farms and smallholdings, from just a few acres to the largest estates. Advice is wide ranging and covers the whole farm - hedgerow management and restoration, pond and orchard management, field margins, wild bird cover, watercourse and stream management, farm waste management, nutrient advice, soil management and information on grants are just some of the subjects that will be covered on a farm visit.
The committee of Herefordshire FWAG is made up of farmers and landowners. FWAG is a membership organisation with regular events, walks, training and talks. A newsletter is also produced three times a year.
| Job Role | Name | Telephone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development Officer: | Margot Porter | (01597) 829298 | margot.porter@fwag.org.uk | |
| Farm Conservation Advisers: | Mike Williams | (01544) 318716 | (01544) 318716 | mike.williams@fwag.org.uk |
| Janet Lomas | (01684) 578857 | (01684) 578857 | janet.lomas@fwag.org.uk | |
| Caroline Hanks | (01981) 251016 | (01981) 251016 | caroline.hanks@fwag.org.uk |
National FWAG website: www.fwag.org.uk
