pete thompson game & wildlife conservation trust ... event... · pete thompson game &...
TRANSCRIPT
“Farmer Clusters”
Pete Thompson
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
Biodiversity Adviser
Landscape scale - the best way to manage soil, water & wildlife?
So, what are “Farmer Clusters”?
• Farmer clusters set
out to improve soil,
water and wildlife, by a
number of farmers
joining forces to work
closely together on a
landscape scale, rather
than as individuals on
their own farms.
But, will farmers work together and do they understand the potential benefits?
• Absolutely, but a good “leader” is crucial.
• They find this new approach - listening to them and
helping them to address issues – more bottom-up &
less top down – very refreshing.
• They enjoy the social aspect.
• They feel empowered by having ownership of their
own group.
•
It is ALL about “bottom-up” and NOT “top-down” - plus working together
Farming – the good life! – CAP Greening measures. Water framework directive. SSAFO.
– Pesticide regulation. Neonicotinoids. Pollinators. Farmland birds.
– Biodiversity. Bees. Controlled traffic farming. Precision farming.
– Minimum tillage. Rotations. Resistance. Disease. LERAPS. CRD.
– X compliance. Welfare regulations. Access. GAEC. Poaching.
– RPA inspections. Fly tipping. Flooding. Drought. Climate change.
– Badgers & TB. NVZs. Sewage sludge. Farm animal ID. GHGAP.
– Sustainable Use Directive .Environmental impact assessments.
– SSSI’s. Scheduled monuments. CPD. Hedgerow regulations.
– Soil protection review. Control of noxious weeds. Diffuse pollution.
– Tree preservation orders. Catchment sensitive farming. HSE.
– Soil erosion. Off road vehicles. NRoSO. Food Hygiene Regulations.
– CPD. Water abstraction. Disposal of hazardous waste. Crow act.
– Point source pollution. Safe disposal of enzyme treated sheep dip.
– Voluntary initiative. Tried & Tested. Wildlife & countryside act.
– Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) & Phosphorus Regulations ............
Training:
• Bring training events to
the farmers – relevant
to the area
• The farmers choose
what they want or
need up-dating on
• They choose when,
where, how, and by
whom
Engaging with the public
Monitoring: Harvest mouse survey – Selborne Farmer’s cluster
An quick lesson on how to find a harvest mouse nest!
Harvest mouse nest
Ready for the off!
Harvest mice around Selborne
• One record for the species in a 5km radius of the
village – way back in 1999 on a nature reserve!
• Assorted volunteers, including many farmers
turned up to survey
• Nobody had ever found a nest before.
• At the end of the day we had found 159 nests!
• The survey continued and has now found and
recorded 481 nests in the area
DEFRA minister Liz Truss visiting the Selborne Landscape partnership
The facilitation fund
Facilitated groups: • Worth 7.2 million over
3 years
• 49 farmer clusters
• 981 farmers involved
• Covering 210,404
hectares (519,697
acres)
• 12 more farmer
clusters targeting flood
prone areas
Martin Down “super cluster” – around 33 farmers covering 12,000+ hectares
Farmer clusters – the future?