Farmer Cluster Engagement
Project at a glance
Area of focus
Smarter Water Catchment (SWC) grants have helped farmer engagement through various channels over four years. A grant helped catalyse the early formation of the North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster (NECFC) before Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Funding became available. Once established, the cluster has gone on to deliver a further 18 projects, plus knowledge exchange events. Projects delivered by the NECFC include soil carbon baselining, bird feeding and targeted habitat creation.
A SWC grant also supported the bid writing for our Evenlode Landscape Recovery (ELR) pilot, the ELR Farm Liaison Officer, and most recently a co-funded partnership role with Natural England to host a Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) Advisor.
Objectives
Catalytic funding to:
- Constitute and build momentum in the NECFC, in readiness of ongoing public facilitation funding.
- Write our successful ELR bid for c. £620,000 project development grant, and hopefully a 20-year implementation grant thereafter.
- Match-fund the farmer liaison role to develop Land Management Plans on 64 farms in ELR, in conjunction with other SWC activities.
- Partner with Natural England and NECFC for joined-up action between public grants, ELR activity and SWC activity on the ground.
Timeline
2021-2025 Facilitation Funding
2022 ELR bid writing
2023-2025 ELR Farm Liaison Officer
2024-2025 CSF Advisor
Outcomes
The SWC funding seeded the engagement of 165 farms covering 50,000 ha.
The combination of Catchment Partnership activity and farmer collaboration has enabled one of the most progressive river catchments in the country, exemplified by the development of the first multi-farm Landscape Recovery Pilot project.
Subsequent spin-off projects are pioneering new routes to private finance to enable more resilient businesses and natural systems in the Evenlode valley.
Project highlights
The willingness and openness of the farming community to try new techniques, schemes and conservation initiatives, whilst battling climate change and a transition in government policy.
Lessons learnt
Data, farmers and stakeholder engagement are all critical to establishing where, and how, nature recovery is best targeted and delivered.
Future plans
20 years of Evenlode Landscape Recovery (ELR) implementation.
Funding
Thames Water contributions:
5% of NECFC Facilitation Funding (£7,800)
40% of ELR bid writing (£2,500)
66% of ELR Farm Liaison Officer (£44,000)
20% of CSF Advisor (£11,000)
Remaining funding matched with membership funds and public funds.