Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West Limited

Shaping the Future: FWAG Members in Conversation with Janet Hughes

Janet Hughes is the Programme Director for the Future Farming and Countryside Programme (FFCP) at Defra. This programme will transform the way agriculture and the countryside environment are supported and regulated. Click here for full details... Read more
Entry #26 - Alison Mitchell: Winter Bird Watching

Winter is a brilliant time to enjoy watching flocks of birds and you can find examples of these in most habitats from arable fields to woodland. Resident species flock together in winter to increase chances of survival, and may form mixed species flocks, but the UK also draws some attractive winter migrants. Read the full article from Alison by clicking here... Read more
[06.01.2022] Defra Publish Updates to CS and ELM Schemes

Following the Secretary of State’s presentation at the Oxford Farming Conference this morning Defra, have published a series of documents relating to Countryside Stewardship and the environmental land management schemes. Click here for more information... Read more
The Sustainable Farming Incentive

In this webinar, Adam Lockyear will outline the key updates regarding the standards for SFI 2022, as well as opening up the discussion with attendees of this webinar. This event is open to FWAG SW Members. Click here for more information and booking link... Read more

Supporting fellow farmers, for over 50 years, to value the environmental assets on their land and use them for a sustainable and profitable future.

How we help

Farm Habitats and Species

We can guide you through any project, arranging surveys and plans to satisfy local planning authority requirements and ensuring the project delivers the maximum wildlife and amenity value.

FWAG SW has a wealth of experience in the range of grants on offer and their suitability for your farm business. We can prepare and submit an application on your behalf and help with your evidence and record keeping requirements.

Our work

Environmental Land Management System Trial

The Environmental Land-Management System (ELMS) is being developed by DEFRA as a potential new payment methodology that is planned to replace current Basic Payment Scheme and Countryside Stewardship.

Hills to Levels

Hills to Levels is a holistic catchment management approach, which began across catchments in Somerset, aiming to ‘slow the flow’ to reduce flood risk, reduce erosion, improve water quality, deliver wider environmental benefits and increase resilience on the floodplain.

Somerset Catchment Partnership

Somerset Catchment Partnership is bringing together a range of organisations who work within the water environments of Somerset since 2013.

159

Countryside Stewardship agreements were submitted, on behalf of farmers, in 2021

22,866ha

of land supported with these applications

£11,498,906

of grants will be paid to these farmers in the south west over the next 5 years

Support us

County Competitions

FWAG SouthWest currently run county based competitions in Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Are you a farmer who carefully considers methods of conservation and sustainability when farming your land? If you would like to find out more about these competitions, and find out how to enter, click here.

Become a member / Renew your membership

JOIN US! Become a friend or a member and you'll be helping to create a better farmed environment for everyone across the South West.

Kingfisher Awards Scheme Volunteering Opportunities

Could you volunteer at one of our Kingfisher schemes across the south west?

News

[06.01.2022] Defra Publish Updates to CS and ELM Schemes

Following the Secretary of State’s presentation at the Oxford Farming Conference this morning Defra, have published a series of documents relating to Countryside Stewardship and the environmental land management schemes. Click here for more information... Read more
[02.12.21] Defra publish details on SFI 2022

Following Defra Minister George Eustice’s speech today (2nd December) at the CLA conference, Defra have published details of the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2022. In this members update we provide an overview of the key points and assessment of the scheme. Click here for full details... Read more
[30.11.21] Free confidential disposal of unwanted pesticides in the FIREPOOL CATCHMENT

The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group Southwest (FWAG SW) with Wessex Water and Catchment Sensitive Farming are offering farms in the Upper Tone ‘Firepool Lock’ catchment the opportunity to dispose of unwanted pesticides and sheep dip with the aim to reduce the risk these chemicals pose to water quality and the environment. Click here for full details... Read more

Blog Posts

Entry #26 - Alison Mitchell: Winter Bird Watching

Winter is a brilliant time to enjoy watching flocks of birds and you can find examples of these in most habitats from arable fields to woodland. Resident species flock together in winter to increase chances of survival, and may form mixed species flocks, but the UK also draws some attractive winter migrants. Read the full article from Alison by clicking here... Read more
Update from Pawlett

AJ Bellamy, Somerset Coastal Levels Project Officer, has shared some visual updates of the work taking place in Pawlett. Click here to see... Read more
Entry #25 - Maisie Jepson: The value of volunteering

I moved to Marlborough, Wiltshire about 3 years ago and love that the Kennet, a beautiful chalk stream, runs through it. Growing up in Worcestershire on the floodplain of the Severn I had a very different experience of rivers; I certainly wouldn’t have waded in that, and now, most years my parents’ house will be cut off for a couple of weeks at peak flow. Read the full article from Maisie by clicking here... Read more