Here, in the Water Friendly Farming Hub, you will find information and resources on interventions that will help the environment while also helping you save money! We have included case studies from demonstration farms and information about grants to support you.

Email farming@merseyrivers.org for more information.

If you are based in the Bollin Catchment we are offering free 1:1 farm business advice with our Farm Advisors. If you are based in the Darley Brook catchment, we also have funding available for water resource interventions, read more here

The Alt Crossens abstraction licensing strategy (ALS) sets out how the Environment Agency manages water resources in the catchment area.  The document shows where surface water and groundwater are available for abstraction as well as the areas where there is restricted availability.  It also outlines actions to ensure sustainable abstraction in the area that will:

• protect the unique environment of Alt Crossens
• deliver sustainable abstraction
• support economic growth
• enhance a water environment that will support health and wellbeing

Please find the policy paper here

Water is an important resource for UK agriculture and the countryside; sometimes there’s too much; sometimes too little and occasionally it’s just right. Growers have to cope with whatever the weather brings. After a wet autumn and winter, followed by a spring and early summer drought, 2020 proved to be a challenge.

Managing the precious resource of water is the subject of this ‘Water Friendly Farming’ series of webinars organised by the Mersey Rivers Trust in conjunction with our partners, focussing on the Alt-Crossens Catchment from West Lancashire to the Sefton Coast and North Liverpool.

Webinar 1 -  September 2020

In this first webinar, our specialist panel of speakers, including the NFU, CSF and the Environment Agency, were on hand to discuss some water friendly farming solutions, present case studies, and share their knowledge. 

You can watch the presentations in our Youtube playlist here.

Webinar 2 - November 2020

The second webinar in the ‘Water Friendly Farming ‘series focussed on funding sources, including the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).

You can watch the presentations from webinar 2 in our Youtube playlist here.

A series of ‘Water Friendly Farming’ workshops with a focus on water resources is underway. 

Workshop - December 2021

In this workshop presentations covered water storage feasibility, agricultural transition and future support including grants and funding. The presentation slides can be found here:

Agricultural Transition and future support - Adam Briggs (NFU)

Funding sources for water - Michael Graham (CSF)

Alt Crossens Priority Catchment (Water Resource)  - Simon Bennett and Helen Nightingale (EA)

Discussion Summary - John Sanders (MRT)

Workshop - March 2022

In this workshop presentations covered an update on ELMS, water abstraction and funding solutions. The presentation slides can be found here:

ELM update - Adam Briggs (NFU)

Grant schemes - Michael Graham (CSF)

Abstraction licencing - Jake Houghton (EA)

Workshop - November 2022

Stewardship funding updates, lowland peat management and drip irrigation demo farm data. The presentation slides can be found here:

Funding update - Michael Graham (CSF)

Care Peat Project - Lauryn McLoughlin (MMU)

Demo farm irrigation data - Netafim 

The Environment Agency (EA) receives a number of enquiries annually regarding the ability for weed-cutting to take place without the need for a permit. The EA have confirmed that weed-cutting can be carried out on a designated Main River without a permit, but only using specialist weed cutting equipment, not a ‘normal/toothed’ bucket and that the operation does not disturb the riverbed or bank. If the works involve any removal of any silt or disturbance to the riverbed or banks then this will require a permit. Any questions on this, please contact Rob Ide, Environment Agency Senior Advisor, Land Drainage Futures on robert.ide@environment-agency.gov.uk or 07770827840.

Contact: farming@merseyrivers.org