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.

Do you farm in Cotebrook, Tarporley, Darnhall, Wettenhall or Winsford areas? If so, 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 to implement interventions on your farm that will benefit water quality.  For more informaton please email us here

Please find the latest Mersey Rivers Trust Farm Newsletter by clicking the link here.  In our monthly newsletters you will find out more about what support and funding is available to boost your farm business, and help you to get the best out of your land, crops and livestock.  There is also information on webinars, training available and new or emerging regulation that affects farms.  Past newsletters can be downloaded at the bottom of this web page.

To sign up to our newsletter mailing list please contact us here.

Last week we hosted an engagement event for farmers across the Upper Weaver as part of the Upper Weaver Farm Engagement project funded by the Environment Agency, at the Alvanley Arms pub in Cotebrook.

15 farmers, landowners and members of the community attended to listen to presentations given by both Mersey Rivers Trust and Nantwich Farm Vets to those present.

Mersey Rivers Trust presented on the recent successes of the work we have been undertaking with farms in both Darley and Ash Brooks, and the opportunities to get further involved in this as we continue to offer free Water Management Plans for farms.

Nantwich Farm Vet Laura Donovan presented on her areas of interest, infectious diseases, surgery ,interesting farm animal cases potential causes and mitigation measures.

Two members of the Environment Agency Agriculture team attended the event to answer questions about their work in the area.

There was also time during the meal and at the end of the evening to have 1-2-1 time with farm advisors and ask questions.

The presentationgiven by Mersey Rivers Trust can be downloaded here:

Mersey Rivers Trust Presentation

Over 20 farmers and growers joined us at Mere Brow Village Hall for our latest Water Friendly Farming Workshop in the Alt Crossens catchment. We had presentations from CSF and NFU covering farming grants and budget updates, Mersey Rivers Trust on the Lowland Agricultural Peat Project, Water Resources West presented on farmer Water Abstractor Groups and Environment Agency talked about their new “Harvesting Success” guidance for water friendly farming. All the presentations can be found on the MRT farming hub.

If any farmers or growers in the Alt Crossens catchment are interested in learning more about “Water Abstractor Groups”, please contact us at farming@merseyrivers.org We will set up a meeting for those who are interested with our partners at Water Resources West and Environment Agency.

The presentations from the event can be downloaded here:

CSF Grants & Schemes

NFU Alt Crossens - SFI Update 2024

EA Harvesting Success

WRW, Agricultural Context and Water Abstractor Groups 

MRT Lowland Agricultural Peat Pilot

MRT Alt Crossens Catchment Partnership: Water Friendly Farming Group

SFI Expanded Offer 2024 Look Up Table

We hosted an engagement event for farmers across the Valley and Englesea Brook catchments as part of the Valley Brook Project, funded by the Bentley Environmental Foundation. The event was held at the White Lion Pub in Weston.

20 farmers and landowners attended to hear presentations from Mersey Rivers Trust and Rachel Price from ELM Associates.

Mersey Rivers Trust presented on the work we have been conducting across the Valley and Englsea Brook catchments, invasive non-native information for landowner control and the opportunities to get further as we continue to offer of FREE Water Management Plans for farms in the area.

Rachel Price from ELM Associates presented an update on the recent changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, including details on how to apply and information on other grant opportunities available to farmers and landowners.

During the meal and at the end of the evening, attendees had the opportunity for 1-2-1 with farm advisors to ask any questions on what we can do for them .

The presentations from the evening can be downloaded here:

Mersey Rivers Trust Presentation

ELM Associates SFI Presentation

You can find out more about the work ELM Associates do and what they can offer you here: https://elmassociates.co.uk/

We held an engagement event for farmers across the Upper Weaver as part of the Upper Weaver Water Freindly Farming project funded by DEFRA and United Utilities, at the Alvanley Arms pub in Cotebrook.

20 farmers, landowners and members of the community attended to listen to presentations given by both Mersey Rivers Trust and Staff from Cheshire West and Chester Council to those present. 

Mersey Rivers Trust presented on the recent successes of the work we have been undertaking with farms in both Darley and Ash Brooks, and the opportunities to get further involved in this as we continue to offer free Water Management Plans for farms.

Cheshire West and Chester Council spoke about Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) plans for the area that are currently out for consultation, and how staking nature recovery with agri-environment schemes that can benefit farmers, they can claim payments for this.

There was also time during the meal and at the end of the evening to have 1-2-1 time with farm advisors and ask questions.

The presentations given on the evening can be downloaded here:

Mersey Rivers Trust Presentation

CWAC Presentation

And you can find out more about the CWAC Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation here

We held an engagement event for farmers in the River Duckow catchment, at Calverhall Village Hall, in Calverhall near Whitchurch.

17 farmers, landowners and members of the community attended to listen to presentations given by both Mersey Rivers Trust and Elaine Jewkes from Soil Sense. 

Mersey Rivers Trust presented on the Better Rivers Better North West fund that means farmers in the area can take advantage of free Farm Water Management Plans for thier farm, and also create a farm group if there was a willingness for this. There were also discussions around the Gas House weir on the Duckow and a bid that Mersey Rivers Trust will make to the Water Restoration Fund to allow us to start to scope out more river restoration work that could be done along the Duckow.

Elaine Jewkes from Soil Sense spoke about how to manage nutrients in your soil so as to get the best from your land to benefit your crops and livestock, how soil testing is vitally important and the part different methods of soil aeration, shattering and sward lifting have to play in your management regimes.

There was also time during the meal and at the end of the evening to have 1-2-1 time with farm advisors and ask further questions.

The Mersey Rivers Trust presentation given on the evening can be downloaded here:

Mersey Rivers Trust Presentation

You can find out more about the advice and support Elaine from Soil Sense can offer here: https://soil-sense.co.uk/ 

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 

Workshop - November 2023

In this workshop presentations covered a range of topics including:

Agricultural Transition Update - NFU

Lowland Peat funding and Project Updates - Mersey Rivers Trust

Funding for Farmers and Growers - Catchment Sensitive Farming

Water Resources in the Alt Crossens Catchment - Environment Agency

Workshop March 2024

In this workshop presentations covered a range of topics including:

Abstraction license info and Groundwater and Water Abstractor Groups - Environment Agency

Funding for Farmers and Growers - Catchment Sensitive Farming

DEFRA Updates - Mersey Rivers Trust

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