Comment

THE Farming Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) has seen some changes since its formation in 1969 but one thing that has not changed is its commitment to supporting farmers and delivering good advice. As a national charitable organisation it has adapted and developed along with the farming industry it serves. A farmer-led organisation, it has strong links with the working countryside and should be considered as a prime resource tool for landowners and landmanagers.

FWAG has developed a network of 55 regional and county groups with a team of 120 highly skilled Farm Conservation Advisors. The key to FWAG's success is its Whole Farm Approach. Irrespective of business enterprise or size, FWAG can show landowners how to unlock the environmental potential of their holding. As an organisation it has gained the knowledge and trust of the industry, working closely with representatives from all of the different agricultural and environmental sectors, and its good reputation means that landowners and organisations can trust the advice on offer is knowledgeable and current.

FWAG offers landowners many opportunities. Through its Landmanager service advisors can give advice on a range of items including habitat management, biodiversity, resource management, archaeology and the historic landscape, sustainable farming and possible sources of grant income. Grant scheme applications are one of FWAG's strengths, with a long track record in providing tried and trusted advice to landowners on entry into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, and now Natural England's Environmental Stewardship. Other services include orchard, pond or woodland management plans, best practice advice for issues such as diffuse pollution or soil management and sustainability advice looking at water, energy and carbon efficiency. Finally, FWAG has recently launched its Environmental Health Check service, designed to give landowners a bespoke service to help them with cross compliance and grant scheme requirements along with on-going conservation advice.

Many other FWAG offices are looking to set up similar projects to support small holders in their regions. For more information or to contact your local adviser visit www.fwag.org.uk.

CASE STUDY

Smallholders in the High Weald

A project set up in the High Weald is one example where FWAG has been working closely with small landowners to give them conservation and land management advice. Situated on the Kent/Sussex border, the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a historic countryside of rolling hills, small, irregular fields, abundant woods and hedges, scattered farmsteads and sunken lanes. Known for its wildflower meadows and connections with the iron industry, this landscape is one of few areas in the UK where the landscape has remained relatively unchanged since medieval times.

Funded by the High Weald Sustainable Development Fund and the Wealden and Rural Rother Leader+ programme, the Smallholders Project is now in its second year, and is the first of its kind in the country. To date funding has enabled FWAG to produce Smallholder information packs, technical information, training days and give on-farm advice to holdings under 50 acres.

One of the biggest successes of the project has been the production of the Smallholder information pack. Aimed at giving local landowners a one-stop resource for advice on training suppliers, contractors, grant funding and other useful contacts, the packs also raise awareness of the key features of the High Weald and how these can be conserved to retain the character of the landscape.

The project has also helped FWAG access landowners overlooked by previous sources of government funded on-farm conservation advice. Many of these landowners are small producers, part-time farmers or new to landownership. The biggest challenge has been converting from farm-scale land management advice to providing the same amount of biodiversity benefit in a small area. However, the project has shown this is easily done, and that smallholdings can become biodiversity hot spots with the right knowledge and guidance.

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