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Farming and the Environment

Herefordshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group have undertaken their second LEADER+ project concerning farmers and their specific training needs.

Begun in November 2005, this project maintained a focus on the environmental issues of farming and land management. The project’s aims were:

  • To raise awareness of farming and environmental issues so that uptake of new agri-environment schemes is high in the LEADER+ parishes
  • To provide advice, information and guidance to Herefordshire farmers on the Environmental Stewardship Schemes – Entry Level (ELS) and Higher Level (HLS)
  • To provide advice to encourage uptake of options within the new schemes, which will deliver maximum environmental benefits

This project provided important information on the new Environmental Stewardship scheme, which replaced the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 2005. FWAG advisers advised farmers how they could use the new scheme to make changes in their farming practices to benefit the environment, particularly the SSSI rivers, the Wye and the Lugg. The options under the scheme covered: management for wildlife; the historic environment; landscape; public access; resource management (for example, soil and water).

All farmers who were in LEADER+ parishes were eligible. The project specifically aimed to give advice and help to farmers who needed help deciding on the options for their farm and filling in the application forms.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs hoped that 70% of farmers would take up the Entry Level Scheme. This project, by raising farmers’ awareness of the scheme and encouraging them to enter, made a significant contribution towards the target level in the county being reached. This, in turn, benefited the environment, ensuring a healthy future for the Herefordshire countryside and its wildlife.

In the effort of helping farmers and raising the general awareness of the public, the project consisted of:

  • Events to launch and regularly promote the full range of project details
  • Workshops on the ELS and HLS for farmers, land managers and Young Farmers groups
  • Advisory visits to farms
  • Telephone support and advice to farmers on these new schemes

Margot Porter
Tel: (01597) 829298
Email: margot.porter@fwag.org.uk

Website: http://www.fwag.org.uk/

 

 
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