WIREDGOV

Farmers in Cornwall have been praised for their efforts to boost the health of South West England’s precious streams, rivers, meres and mosses by carrying out work that is improving water quality and reducing pollution from agricultural activity.

For the last six years, the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) project has been working with dozens of land managers who farm around the River Camel and its tributaries and also with farmers in the Fal, Caerhays, Cober and Marazion areas.  The project team has been providing farmers with free training and advice with the aim of helping them to reduce the risk of water pollution from agricultural operations.  More recently the project has been extended to cover the Seaton, East Looe and Fowey catchments.

More than 200 farm initiatives in Cornwall have received funding through the CSF’s annual Capital Grants Scheme, which has already awarded over £2 million to help local land managers carry out practical works on their land.  The project team have also been providing free information and advice on topics ranging from nutrient management planning and soil husbandry, to fertiliser spreader calibration and soil & water management.

Geoff Sansome, Natural England’s Director for Land Management (South), is delighted with the response from Cornwall’s farmers so far and praised their interest and enthusiasm for the project.  He said:  “There has been a really positive response from farmers in west Cornwall, who can see the benefits for the environment as well as their businesses from the support provided by our local Catchment Sensitive Farming team.  I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part so far and would encourage more farmers in the area to get involved.

“The Catchment Sensitive Farming Project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through partnership working and provides a great way for land managers to show their support for the Government’s ‘Love Your River’ campaign.”

The project offers funding for carrying out practical works on farms and the annual Capital Grants Scheme, which is administered by Natural England, is open to farmers and land managers in the CSF scheme’s priority areas.

Kate Allingham, Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer for west Cornwall, added: “In addition to reducing pollution risk and helping the local environment, the specialist training and advice offered by the project team can save farmers’ money.  Just this month, I was delighted to hear two dairy farmers report back that a visit from a CSF Adviser has already helped them make thousands of pounds worth of savings.”

The CSF Capital Grant Scheme has already awarded in excess of £2 million through funding more than 200 projects in Cornwall.  The grants have helped local farmers to roof over livestock feeding areas, relocate underground drains to separate clean and dirty water, resurface farmyards, fence off water courses to exclude livestock, and install rainwater harvesting equipment.  In the Marazion catchment, the grant funding has also been used to create sediment ponds, check dams and install biobeds and sprayer wash-down areas.

Any farmer who would like further information about the Catchment Sensitive Farming project can contact Kate for enquiries in Cornwall at kate.allingham@naturalengland.org.uk or email CSFInformationandQueriesNE@naturalengland.org.uk for information about activity in other areas of England  Farm improvement works can be funded with up to 50% grant aid and offers grants of up to £10,000 per farm from the Capital Grants Scheme.  More than 40 types of project are eligible for funding.

The Catchment Sensitive Farming project is a joint project between the Environment Agency and Natural England, funded by Defra and the Rural Development Programme for England, working in priority catchments within England. The project is part of the national response to meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and contributes towards achieving Natura 2000 objectives.

Love Your River campaign
Defra and a range of partner organisations have come together to launch the Love Your River campaign to celebrate the importance of our rivers and to remind people of the steps they can take to protect these special places.  The Catchment Sensitive Farming Project contributes to the campaign by offering practical support and advice, helping farmers reduce the adverse effect of pollution on our rivers and associated wildlife. 

Additional notes:

1. Grants are available for carrying out practical works on the farm that will boost the health of England’s precious streams, rivers, meres and mosses by improving water quality and reducing pollution from agricultural activity.  The grant scheme, which is administered by Natural England, is open to farmers and land managers in the CSF scheme’s target areas.

2. Farm improvement works can be funded with up to 50% grant aid from the CGS and more than 40 types of project are eligible for funding.  If the scheme is oversubscribed, grants will be allocated to those applications which best meet the scheme’s priorities, are within target areas and will deliver the greatest environmental benefit.

About Catchment Sensitive Farming

• The Catchment Sensitive Farming Project is a joint project between the Environment Agency and Natural England, funded by Defra and the Rural Development Programme for England, working in priority catchments within England.

• The project is proving successful in reducing diffuse water pollution from agriculture and is important in helping to meet the Water Framework Directive standards. Catchment Sensitive Farming was introduced by Defra in 40 priority catchments in April 2006 to raise awareness and encourage early voluntary action by farmers and land managers to tackle diffuse water pollution from agricultural sources.

• The project is part of the national response to meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and contributes towards achieving Natura 2000 objectives.

• Since it began five years ago over 3,000 farmers and land managers have received around £30m in grants for capital works.

For further information (media enquiries only) please contact: David Hirst, Natural England press office, on 0300 0601720 or david.hirst@naturalengland.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturalEngland.