2009 News Archive

Headlines

Registered SWARM and REG 1:1 Advisors

The South West Regional Development Agency has a variety of schemes on offer to the agricultural sector including SWARM and REG 1:1.

The South West Agricultural Resource Management (SWARM) initiative aims to help businesses to become more profitable and resilient as well as reduce their impact on the environment.  Both Jonathan Brunyee and Paul Silcock of Cumulus Consultants are registered SWARM advisors. This enables them to provide you with free advice on either/both of the two SWARM projects: Soils for Profit (S4P) covering soils, manures and nutrients; and Resource Efficiency for Farms (R4F); covering energy, water, air and inorganic waste.

If the SWARM advisor identifies a need, businesses can benefit from a capital grant scheme. Grants of up to 40% and maximum £10,000 per holding (with additional money for dairy farms) to help fund resource improvements for items such as rain water capture tanks, insulation, hydraulic ram and variable speed pumps, heat recovery systems, slurry covers and slurry applicators and soil aerators.

The South West Region’s REG 1:1 Scheme provides 70% funded Farm Business Advice. An advisor will meet with you to provide individual consultancy for up to a one day including a site visit in order to review your current position and discuss your business needs and aspirations. This will be followed up by a plan of practical activities that will help you to get the most from your farm business. Implementation of recommendations is not obligatory. Both Paul Silcock and Jonathan Brunyee, of Cumulus Consultants, are registered 1:1 advisors.

The tailored consultancy will review your business needs covering almost any aspect of farming including, but not limited to,: improving economic activity; succession planning; accessing new markets; diversification / innovation options; management and financial issues; environmental opportunities; and best practice.

To register your interest in either the SWARM initiative or REG 1:1 scheme, farmers should contact the South West Rural Enterprise Gateway on 0845 600 9966. At this stage, you can nominate Paul or Jonathan as your advisor.

For more information on either initiative,  please contact Paul or Jonathan.

Grazing the Mendips – an appraisal for Somerset Wildlife Trust

Exmoor ponies grazing Yoxter Range

The species-rich habitats of the Mendips have been created and maintained over many hundreds of years by extensive cattle and sheep grazing. The Mendip Grazing Animal Project (MGAP) was developed in 2005 by Somerset Wildlife Trust and partners to help manage key reserves and SSSIs in the area.  

The main element of the MGAP is the grazing of the reserve/in-hand farm at Chancellor’s Farm and Yoxter Range, owned by the Defence Estates. Currently this land (covering 254ha) is grazed by around 120 pedigree Ruby Red Devon cattle, 50 Black Welsh Mountain sheep and 15 Exmoor ponies.

Cumulus Consultants has been commissioned to assess the current grazing and business arrangements and appraise the options for the future. Over the coming months we will work in close partnership with the Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT), Natural England and the current grazier to look at key management issues, working agreements and the possibility of developing a co-operative venture.

Jonathan Brunyee from Cumulus says ‘this site offers a range of exciting opportunities for SWT and partners including grazing outreach, flying pony herds, demonstration and premium meat marketing. Balancing financial and environmental sustainability is crucial’

Consideration of the current and future agri-environment policies and consumer trends as well as comparison with other similar conservation grazing initiatives will be included in the report.

Climate change – the future of farming and forestry in the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds Conservation Board (CCB) has identified climate change and globalisation as the two key forces for change which will impact the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the years and decades ahead. Together, farming and forestry account for 96% of the land area of the AONB and also support many of the special features which make the Cotswold landscape unique.

Cotswold sheep

Cumulus Consultants, in conjunction with Land Use Consultants and the Royal Agricultural College, has recently completed a study for CCB to increase our understanding of the impacts of climate change and globalisation on farming and forestry in the Cotswolds. Part of this work focussed on identifying various scenarios on the possible impacts of these forces on farming and forestry as well as proposing policies and actions to promote and guide change in farming and forestry in line with objectives of the Cotswolds AONB.

A number of recommendations across a variety of areas were made to the CCB to address the impacts and issues arising including:

  • Research and monitoring. Understanding impacts, reviewing responses and monitoring change through relevant indicators.
  • Policy and planning. New policies, strategies and plans to reflect changing priorities including climate change adaptation and mitigation.
  • Skills and training. Improving awareness, understanding and skills to enable successful adaptation and mitigation.
  • Diversification and business support. Enabling businesses to change and diversify to manage future risks and make the most of new opportunities.
  • Soil and water management. Provision of Cotswold specific information and advice in this crucial area.
  • Emissions. Promoting emission accounting and reduction.
  • Landscape. Managing change in the Cotswold landscape and promoting appropriate action.
  • Rural communities. Encouraging farmers, foresters and local communities to work together in response to climate change.

Farming and forestry will be play a critical role in the future in order to maintain the special features of the Cotswolds and to help address climate change.

A copy of the full report and executive summary is available at:
http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/userfiles/file/Publications/Final Report September 2009.pdf

The report and topic will be focus of discussion at the Cotswolds Farming Forum and CCB Annual Forum in February/March 2010.

Conservation in action – Usk to Wye Campaign

The Wye Valley

The Usk to Wye campaign aims to inspire people to take action to develop a landscape-scale habitat network for Monmouthshire. The vision is a more sustainable landscape within which people can live and work whilst other species adapt to survive climate change. It is hoped that thousands of people will be involved in creating and nurturing the landscape to conserve the wide range of habitats as well as the area’s special historic environmental, cultural and social heritage. Additionally, the Vision hopes that the landscape will provide the basis for a flourishing, low carbon, green economy.

The Usk to Wye campaign originated in the Woodland Trust’s interest in influencing the management of the landscape surrounding its reserve at Wentwood and the Gwent Wildlife Trust’s desire to develop a habitat network in south-east Monmouthshire. Over 50 people attended the ‘Spring into Action’ conference to discuss the vision in March 2009.

Since then, Cumulus Consultants has helped to develop the campaign by extending the original partnership to include Monmouthshire County Council, Coleg Gwent, Forestry Commission Wales, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, National Farmers Union Wales and Adventa.

More recently, we have produced a Business Plan to provide direction for the development of the Campaign over the next five years and contributed to the development of an application for a Landscape Partnership grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For more details, please see http://www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/coedcadw/coedcadwusktowye.html

Monitoring the progress of HLF’s Area Schemes and Landscape Partnerships

Cumulus Consultants have been commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to assemble the output data for their Area Schemes (AS) and Landscape Partnerships (LP). This project is a continuation of our work first undertaken for HLF in 2006.
Originally, the HLF funded Area Schemes focused on one area or region with special cultural, historical, wildlife and other features. In January 2004, the Landscape Partnership (LP) programme was developed to replace this approach. Each LP must be focused on an area of distinctive landscape character and meet four, specific priorities:

  • The conservation or restoration of built and natural features
  • The conservation and celebration of cultural associations and activities
  • The encouragement of access, education and involvement of more people
  • The provision of training to improvement of understanding of local crafts and skills

Heritage Lottery Fund Landscape Partnership and Area Schemes

Our work has involved the development of a monitoring and reporting system to provide baseline information and subsequent annual reports. The findings from the output data will form part of the overall evaluation of the HLF’s Landscape Partnership programme.

30 AS and LP, covering 7.52% of the UK land area, were surveyed. It was established that the following outputs have been achieved to date:

  • 6,718 hectares of priority habitat have achieved condition or been restored
  • 594 built heritage or archaeological features have benefited in some way
  • 2,768 km of new or improved linear access have been created
  • 46 new or improved visitor information facilities have been provided
  • 4,915 volunteers have participated in related projects
  • 10,831 people have benefited from skills training

Forward projections were also produced to indicate outputs likely to have been achieved by the end of the schemes. 
Paul Silcock, Director of Cumulus commented "we’re delighted to be involved in monitoring the progress of the Landscape Partnership programme for HLF, it is a significant initiative achieving landscape-scale impacts across the UK."

Cultivating change for the National Trust – Supporting New Entrants

One of the best ways to cultivate the farming sector for the future is to attract and support ‘new entrants’ who can bring with them fresh enthusiasm, energy, innovation and technical ability. To this end, Jonathan Brunyee of Cumulus has been working with the National Trust, one of the biggest farming landlords in the country.

Jonathan’s work aimed to improve the internal process of re-letting Trust holdings and focused on how to assist and encourage potential applicants, particularly new entrants, to find and apply for them.

Supporting those new to farming

Jonathan says: "There is a perception amongst many potential new entrants that there is no future for them in agriculture. Those that are keen face relatively few opportunities to get on the farming ladder and poor financial returns for their hard work. As a leading landowner the Trust has an important role to play in breaking down these perceptions and barriers."

New entrants, including those new to the industry and those making their way up the ladder, need accessible and appropriate guidance and business advice. They have particular requirements and may need to be assisted in basic but essential processes such as to tendering and business planning, and signposting to mentoring schemes, funding opportunities and training. Invariably they also need environmental advice and support.

What has been achieved?

As well as drawing on his own experiences as a Trust farm tenant, Jonathan has spent the last 18 months interviewing Trust staff, talking to other tenants and landlords, gathering examples of best practice and reviewing processes. Jonathan’s work was presented to the industry at an NT organised celebratory event in March 2009 and included:

  • two best practice guides for Trust staff focusing on farm re-letting, and working with new entrants and those leaving the industry;
  • a newsletter with tenant case studies aimed at those seeking and applying for National Trust farms;
  • a resource CD and documents for the web including downloadable farm application forms and business planning proformas;
  • a series of workshop events for NT staff;
  • a programme of awareness raising talks to Fresh Start Groups and Young Farmer Clubs.

Getting a foot on the ladder

New entrants should consider the range of alternative ways to get on the ladder. Full time farming under a Farm Business Tenancy is the norm but there are many others options.

Jonathan says: "Part time farming, share farming, contract farming, apprenticeships, conservation grazing partnership and Community Supported Agriculture are all options supported by the Trust and other forward thinking landlords. New entrants must look at all these options and make things happen."

The early years

Jonathan concludes: "Once a tenant is in place, the first three years of the business start-up is crucial. I have looked at how to better support and communicate with tenants in the early years to help ensure business and environmental success. Working together on a Whole Farm Plan and skills and training provision are, I believe, crucial".

We can help you

This work and our broad experience in this area is applicable to other landlords and conservation organisations who work with farming tenants. It is also relevant to young farmers and new entrants looking and applying for farms to rent.

Cumulus can offer practical new entrant and policy support as part of its ‘green land agency’ service. For further information, please contact us.

Delivering Stewardship in the Cotswolds

We have been working on a number of projects to help deliver and promote the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme in the Cotswolds. Read on for examples of the HLS services we can offer at farm and policy level.

HLS, run by Natural England, supports farmers and land managers to adopt particular land management practices that will bring environmental benefits. More than 200 management options are included in the scheme, and there is funding for capital items such as hedgerow restoration and walling.

The scheme targets 110 priority areas across the country with high levels of biodiversity, natural resource, and public access, landscape and historic interest, as well as additional themed areas such as farmland bird hotspots.

Whittington Lodge Farm

Cumulus has recently developed a comprehensive and successful HLS application for Mr Ian Boyd of Whittington Lodge Farm near Andoversford. Our work also included a combined Entry Level Scheme/Organic Entry Level Scheme application.

The holding is 292ha mixed unit and consists of 155ha of arable cropping (spring cereals, oil seed rape, arable margins, wild bird cover, game crops and arable stubbles) and 103ha of grassland. The organic grassland, including an area of species rich SSSI limestone grassland, is grazed by Mr Boyd’s new herd of traditional Hereford cattle.

Mr Boyd won FWAG’s Silver Pintail competition in 2009 for his work on farmland bird habitat and our HLS application was designed to reflect and complement this.

A detailed Farm and Environment Plan (FEP) is a prerequisite of all HLS applications and looks at all the key habitats and features on the farm. Most farmers use a consultant to prepare their FEP which is then used to inform the HLS options chosen within the application itself.

The application included a wide range of arable options designed to benefit farmland birds e.g. corn bunting, grey partridge and lapwing. We chose the over wintered stubble, low input spring crop, fallow, field margin and wild bird cover options. Grassland management/restoration, traditional cattle grazing and educational access options were also included.

Sunflowers, an example of an arable option that provides wild bird cover

The work at Whittington Lodge is so exciting Natural England will be using the site as demonstration farm over the coming years.

Raising Awareness in the Cotswolds AONB

There are many opportunities for farmers in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to enter and benefit from HLS. Working for the Cotswolds Conservation Board, we have helped write and produce a leaflet aimed at local landowners. The leaflet explains how HLS works, shows the various target and theme areas/priorities, and gives examples of the most relevant options and payment rates. We also highlight the wider business benefits of HLS for example cross compliance, sporting, marketing and tourism.

Promoting HLS at Farm Level

Jonathan Brunyee of Cumulus recently hosted two stewardship events for farmers on his own mixed farm looking at practical management issues and good practice. The events were run in conjunction with ADAS and Natural England. The next farm walk, aimed at the general public for is planned for May 9th 2009.

Establishing the cost of conservation

In February, Cumulus was commissioned by Defra and Natural England to undertake a short, but important piece of research work to support the proposed review of agri-environment scheme payments in 2010.

The work involved the supply of cost data for a long list of capital items, this will be used by Natural England to calculate the typical cost of undertaking capital works under agri-environment scheme agreements and derive appropriate capital payment rates. The new payment rates will apply to both Environmental Stewardship and ‘classic’ scheme agreements (Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas).

Costings were gathered for 102 items in categories such as consultancy, fencing and walling materials, building materials, planting materials, machine hire and contract work. A range of costings were gathered for each item in order to take account of regional variations and differences in quantities used.

A dry stone wall, an example of one of the capital items examined in the research

A total of 71 suppliers, those likely to be used by farmers and land managers, were approached to obtain cost data. This was done via websites, email, telephone, and, in a few instances, face to face meetings. Published price lists and costings were used to validate data obtained.

The project builds on our wide experience of scheme costings. Paul Silcock who specialises in this area comments "We’re delighted to have undertaken this work for Defra and Natural England and apply our knowledge and understanding of the economics of delivering environmental improvements on farm."

Other projects undertaken in this field include reviews of payments for English Nature’s Wildlife Enhancement Scheme, costings for schemes to tackle diffuse pollution in England, and cost-benefit data for good farm practices in Wales.

Extending a pioneering concept – the Landscape Link Project

The Landscape Link Project is a new project being led by Herefordshire Nature Trust and its partners which aims to develop a broad landscape corridor linking the Wye Valley and Malvern Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The project has evolved from pioneering work undertaken at the Woolhope Dome in Herefordshire over the past six years. The Woolhope Dome’s partnership approach (involving landowners and managers, smallholders, rural business owners and other members of the community) has enabled large-scale biodiversity gains at a landscape level, and the development of related economic and social activity.

The Landscape Link Project will roll out and build on the Woolhope Dome approach to enhance a landscape corridor between two regionally recognised Biodiversity Enhancement Areas (see map below). The aim is to link communities to their local landscapes, benefiting both biodiversity and people. The project will work in partnership with farmers, landowners and local groups.

A map showing the scope of the Landscape Link Project

The project’s objectives are to:

  • Enhance local people’s understanding and enjoyment of the landscape and enable them to get involved through access, research, learning and volunteering;
  • Develop community links with local habitats, landscape features and key species to help promote sense of place and local conservation action.
  • Maintain, enhance and restore key habitats in the area including traditional orchards, species-rich grassland, parkland and semi-natural broadleaved woodland;
  • Make connections and corridors linking key habitats, thereby helping species to move and spread (this is increasingly important in the context of climate change);
  • Improve landscape, historic and other environmental features such as parish boundaries, hedgerows, ponds and watercourses.
  • Encourage and support enterprises which benefit the local environment and socio-economy

We have been involved with developing a business plan for the Landscape Link, consulting parishes and other organisations, and making applications for funding.

Paul Silcock who is project managing the work on behalf of Cumulus says: "The Landscape Link Project is exactly the kind of initiative which we specialise in and support – it is about creating closer links between people and landscapes and developing enterprises and activities which deliver a range of environmental, social and economic benefits."