Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects (FWAG)

The Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys Countryside Project.

The Pang, Kennet Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects (FWAG) cover 510km² between East Ilsley and Pangbourne and the length of the River Kennet from Hungerford to the edge of Reading.  A significant area of the Projects lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  The Projects were officially brought within the administration of Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group(FWAG) in 2002 and cover the work of FWAG within the Valleys.

The Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects (FWAG) aims to protect and enhance the natural beauty of the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys and help people appreciate the countryside.

The Projects objectives are to:

• Conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the natural environment and landscape in the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys
  Promote environmentally responsible farming practices throughout the Project area
  Involve all sectors of the community in caring for and appreciating the local environment
  Increase awareness of the countryside and environment issues through education and interpretation

What we can do for you...

Farm conservation reports, integrating conservation with modern agricultural practices
Help with grants - Countryside Stewardship, Woodland Grant Scheme and other landscape conservation grants
Provide volunteer opportunities
Nutrient budgets and resource management advice
Advice and practical help on habitat creation and management of projects, e.g. reed beds, grasslands, ponds, woodlands, trees and hedgerows and specific species such as water vole, barn owl, lapwing and white clawed crayfish.                                             

The Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects are keen to help anyone interested in caring for their local environment. Projects include reed bed management, building otter holts, pond restoration, hedge laying and tree planting.

We organize regular volunteer work parties. No expertise is needed as guidance, supervision and tools are all provided.  We would also like to hear from anyone who is knowledgeable about the local history or wildlife in the project area.

Farm Waste Management Project

The Farm Waste Management Project looks at all types of farm wastes, to consider their minimisation and also their management in an environmentally sensitive manner. We aim to provide farmers with advice on cost-effective, alternative solutions where there is identified to be a need, and to generally encourage more sustainable waste management practices.  The ‘Farm Conservation and Waste Management Project Officer’ has training and expertise in soil science and sustainable agriculture, and is also FACTS qualified.  This position is funded by Hanson through the Environmental Trust for Berkshire

Waste minimisation has clear environmental benefits, but the farm business can also benefit in many ways:

By reducing the quantity of raw materials bought, raw materials will be more efficiently used
Saving time and money in handling and managing wastes
Reducing any disposal costs
Reducing and making less likely any damage to the environment that could have a negative effect on productivity
Working towards compliance with future regulations

MANURE NEEDS MANAGING

The Farm Waste Management Project is also looking at the potential causes of pollution from farms in the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn valleys and we give advice on resource management. We can give specific or general advice on resource management, which includes:

Soil Erosion: Soil washed into the rivers can have a significantly damaging effect on the chalk stream habitat that these rivers are noted for, as it clogs up the gravels that should make up the riverbeds.  It can also carry with it phosphates, which enrich the nutrient content of the water (having a negative effect on the flora and fauna), and some pesticides that produce toxins in their breakdown. We can produce 'Soil Management Plans' to help avoid erosion, and to prevent soilwash reaching the rivers.

Manures and Slurries: These need careful storage and application as their potential for polluting is huge, but they are also a very valuable nutrient resource.  The new Nitrate Sensitive Zones that came into being in December 2002 cover a significant part of the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn valleys, and these regulations enforce this careful management. We can advise on the NVZ regulations, and produce 'Manure and Slurry Management Plans'.

Nutrients: 'Nutrient Budgeting' is a tool pioneered in Holland to assess the nutrient efficiency of a farming system, which can give an indication of where the inefficiencies in the system exist. It is a matter of accounting for all nutrient imports and all nutrient exports from the farm, the aim being to always strive towards a greater amount of inputs reaching the crops and products. This tool has saved some farms a significant amount of money by reducing the fertiliser bill!
 

If you farm in the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn valleys, please give us a call and we would be happy to carry out a free visit to advise on resource management, waste minimisation, conservation and grant schemes.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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