Abigail Webber Somerset Catchment Partnership Coordinator Expand Abi first joined FWAG Southwest in 2013 as a Farm Liaison Officer on the Value of Working Wetlands (WOW) Project, before going on to coordinate the Fodder Bank for the Somerset Flood Recovery Project. Abi also worked as a Lower Catchment Farm Adviser on the Hills to Levels Project, delivering part of the land management workstream of the 20-year Flood Action Plan. Abi now coordinates the Somerset Catchment Partnership, which works collaboratively under the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA), to drive improvements to the water environment within the catchments of the Rivers Parrett, Tone, Axe, Brue and the West Somerset Streams.
Adam Lockyear Head of Advisory Services Expand Adam has been a farm conservation adviser for 8 years. He has worked on many stewardship agreements and climate change issues. Adam works on the Value of Working Wetlands Project covering the Somerset Levels and Moors working with farmers managing wet grassland habitats. He also runs a dairy goat farm for a cheese maker in Somerset.
Áine Corrigan Assistant Farm Environment Adviser Expand Áine joined FWAG in May 2022 as maternity cover for Anne May and as such her main focus is delivering support and advice to farmers in the Headwaters of the Exe catchment on water quality improvements as part of the Upstream Thinking project. Her passion for agriculture and the environment began whilst growing up on a small beef and sheep holding in Ireland. Áine studied Agricultural Science at University College Dublin, graduating in 2018. Since then, she has worked for various agri-environmental and food industry companies both in Ireland and the UK.
Ali Morgan Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Ali Joined FWAG SW in September 2020 and works mainly in the Somerset Frome catchment, offering business critical advice to farmers and landowners on resource protection, Natural Flood Management, river restoration and land management to reduce pollution risks and enhance environmental benefits. Ali graduated from Reading University with a degree in Agriculture and has worked with farmers and land-managers in advisory and project management roles across the UK and overseas.
Alison Mitchell Farm Environment Adviser Expand Alison joined FWAG SW in September 2021 and works mainly in north-east Somerset. She has worked as a conservation adviser for over 15 years, since gaining a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Dundee. She has worked with farmers and landowners for over 10 years to develop land management plans and strategies which deliver both for wildlife and farm businesses. Prior to joining FWAG Alison has held roles with Plantlife, RSPB, local planning authorities and worked as a freelance ecologist. She has wealth of knowledge and experience of a wide range of plant and animal species and habitat conservation, such as farmland birds, breeding waders, mammals, and rare arable plants.
Ann Langdon Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Ann has worked for FWAG for the last 14 years. Her experience ranges from advising on and preparing agri-environment schemes to providing more specialist soil, water and grassland management advice. Recent work includes working on reducing flooding and diffuse pollution in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire as well as managing projects like the EU funded Triple C project and the Stour Headwater Multi-benefit project
Anna Lantaff Assistant Farm Environment Adviser Expand Anna joined FWAG SW in March 2022 after completing a Diploma in Countryside Management at Sparsholt College Hampshire. With a BA in History & Archaeology from the University of Leicester, she worked as a commercial archaeologist in East Anglia before becoming interested in soil health and regenerative agriculture. She currently provides assistance to other members of the team with mapping, soil sampling, habitat surveys, and Countryside Stewardship applications.
Anne May Farm Environment Adviser Expand Anne has been working for FWAG since early 2018, mainly working across Exmoor. Initially she worked on the Exmoor Coastal Streams Facilitation Fund organising events for farmers, on the Headwaters of the Exe Project and on Countryside Stewardship applications. Currently she is working on the Headwaters of the Exe project, delivering advice to farmers on water quality improvements, soil health, grazing management, parasite control, farm infrastructure, and habitats and wildlife. Before joining the FWAG team Anne graduated from Harper Adams University having studied Countryside Management BSc Hons. She then worked for the Exmoor National Park Authority mapping moorland vegetation change from aerial photography. Anne farms alongside her husband on an Exmoor beef and sheep farm.
Ben Thorne Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Ben has over 25 years’ experience working with farmers in Somerset and has recently led on the delivery of the land management workstream of the Somerset 20 Year Flood Action Plan – including heading up the Hills to Levels program. Ben specialises in agri-environment schemes, making the environment relevant for every farmer and Natural Flood Management. Ben also acts as Team Leader in Somerset.
Fi Holder Moor Association Coordinator Expand Fi has been working in the area supporting the set up of Moor Associations, working with groups of farmers to help transition into different and new ways of drawing in payments both private and public as well as having a joined-up voice to represent the unique challenges faced by farming commercially on the Levels and Moors. Her background is in contract management- spending most of her career to date working in education at director level but her passion is working on her family beef farm as well supporting others who farm in the area to access the information and opportunities required to make develop and progress their businesses.
Jenna Higgins Assistant Farm Environment Adviser Expand Jenna has extensive land management and conservation experience in the private and public sectors as an arboricultural consultant, coppice worker and crafts person, and professional tree inspector. Jenna volunteered at numerous small-scale horticultural enterprises before graduating with an MSc. Agroecology (Distinction) from Harper Adams University where she received an award for her thesis from the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS). Jenna worked at Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) for a year and a half and gained experience in Integrated Farm Management (IFM) and what is involved in managing ‘LEAF Marque’, a global environmental assurance scheme. Whilst at LEAF, Jenna was also heavily involved in running projects with farmers and project-managed a Defra Test and Trial assessing the role of peer-to-peer learning in Environmental Land Management before joining FWAG SW in March 2023. Jenna assists with the Hills to Levels project amongst other mapping and agri-environment scheme application support.
Jo Oborn Environmental Agronomist Expand Jo has worked with farmers in the Somerset area, and beyond in Devon and Dorset, for more than 25 years. She is a qualified crop agronomist and specialises in practical advice on soils, nutrients, manures and sustainable crop rotations.
Joanna Uglow Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Joanna works with farmers, foresters and game shoot managers to develop integrated land management on Exmoor. The Headwaters of the Exe project aims to improve water quality and enhance Natural Capital. Topics include soil health, grazing and sward management, parasite control, farm infrastructure and natural flood management. Having joined FWAG SW in 2015, Joanna has worked on the Hills to Levels project designing and implementing Natural Flood Management schemes across Somerset. She worked with farmers, councils and project partners to help reduce the impacts of flooding while providing multiple environmental benefits. Hills to Levels won the UK Rivers Prize in 2018.
John Rowlands Water Management Adviser Expand John Rowlands is a Water Management Adviser on the Adapting The Levels project, working with farmers to increase their business resilience in the face of climate unpredictability. A recent addition to FWAG, he has over 40 years’ experience in the Water Industry starting with water companies, National Rivers Authority and Environment Agency including 20 years specialising in water management on the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Lauren Clarke Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Lauren joined FWAG SW in 2012 as an Assistant Adviser and proceeded to Adviser and now Senior Adviser. Lauren’s role includes advising on the Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Capital Grant schemes as well as the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme; in addition to completing applications for farmers and landowners. Lauren also project manages several contracts on behalf of FWAG SW, ensuring delivery is on track and deadlines are met. On top of this Lauren organises the annual Farm Plastic Recycling Scheme, which enables farmers to recycle their plastic at 12 sites across Devon, Dorset and Somerset and is Treasurer of the Somerset Hedge Group.
Mandy Lowe County Convenor/Facilitator (ELMs) Expand Mandy joined FWAG in August 2023. She has many years’ experience leading projects/statutory government processes at a local authority level and is currently completing the final year of an Environmental Science degree. She is the facilitator / convenor for the Environmental Land Management Scheme test and trials local delivery model project. In her spare time, Mandy volunteers for RSPB, a Community Agriculture Group, and the local Community Orchard group. When not volunteering, she loves spending time out and about in nature with her dogs, and gig rowing.
Merle Brown Farm Environment Adviser Expand Merle joined the FWAG team in 2020 and provides GIS mapping and other support to the FWAG SW Hills to Levels Project team in Somerset. Prior to FWAG SouthWest Merle spent six years employed as a Consultant Ecologist working with developers to provide ecological advise and support during planning applications. She holds a class licence to survey and handle great crested newts and has experience surveying and designing mitigation for this species along with bats, dormice, water voles and reptiles.
Milly Bowden Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Milly joined FWAG in summer 2020 and works on the 2 Valleys and the Hills to Levels projects in Somerset as a Resource Protection Adviser. Milly graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Physical Geography and began her career managing agricultural field trials in East Anglia. She is a qualified adviser on soils, water and nutrients as well as experience in conservation farming practices and Countryside Stewardship.
Oli Etherington Assistant Farm Environment Adviser Expand Oli joined FWAG SW in August 2023 to support the Hills to Levels delivery team - focusing on natural interventions that can help contribute to flood mitigation for Somerset, in the context of the whole catchment, whilst taking into account the many broader ecological, social, and economic considerations. Oli has an educational background in environmental chemistry and GIS, and brings professional experience in riverine habitat restoration, hydrological analysis, technical design, and construction projects.
Oliver Edmonds Farm Environment Adviser Expand Olly has recently joined FWAG SW as an assistant farm conservation adviser (maternity cover) . Olly principally works across Exmoor helping to deliver the Headwaters of the Exe project and the organisation of the Exmoor Coastal Streams Facilitation Fund group. Other work includes supporting senior advisers in delivering Countryside Stewardship and farm benchmarking workshops. Before joining FWAG SW, Olly worked as an ecologist undertaking habitat and species surveys across the south of England and Wales. He has worked in local and central government on agri-environment schemes in both delivery and policy roles.
Peter Shipton Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Peter has recently joined FWAG SW and is currently working on Natural Flood Management projects in the Somerset Frome catchment and in Dorset, as well as providing a range of advice on farm infrastructure development, soil husbandry and farm regulatory compliance. He has a practical agricultural background and has provided farm advice for many years specialising in farm infrastructure, soil management, livestock and forage systems and farm business management. Peter has a degree in Agricultural Economics from Aberystwyth University and an Engineering Doctorate in Soil Mechanics from Cranfield University.
Rachel Leonard Farm Liaison Officer Expand Rachel is a Farm Liaison Officer on the Adapting The Levels project, working with farmers to increase their business resilience in the face of climate unpredictability. She has previous experience in the delivery of agri-environment schemes and farms 200 beef cattle in North Devon.
Rebecca Mills Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Rebecca is an experienced adviser and has been delivering environmental advice to farmers with FWAG SW for over 15 years. She has a sound working knowledge of agri-environment schemes and the environmental aspects of Cross Compliance. Rebecca has been involved in various projects based around species and habitat conservation and protected landscapes as well as working with farmer producer groups to help them meet their environmental obligations. She benefits from a strong farming background, farming beef cattle and sheep with her husband in the Brendon Hills.
Rory Cox Farm Environment Adviser Expand Rory joined FWAG as a Farm Environment Adviser in February 2023 after working as a share farmer on a livestock farm in Somerset. He is principally working to deliver the Headwaters of the Exe project as well as coordinating the Farming with Nature project which supports farms to become more resilient to environmental challenges including soil health, water usage, biodiversity, and climate change. Rory has a master’s degree in Environmental Management and previously worked for WWF in Hong Kong.
Roy Hayes Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Roy works on the Hills to Levels project advising farmers and landowners on water management and water quality including design and location of Natural Flood Management (NFM) schemes to reduce localised flooding. Roy can also give advice about farm infrastructure and land management changes.
Thomas Mansfield Senior Farm Environment Adviser and Woodland Specialist Expand Tom joined FWAG South West at the start of 2016 as an Assistant Farm Conservation Adviser. He has been working on a wide range of projects, surveys and mapping tasks over the last few years with an emphasis on woodland creation, management and wildlife surveys. Tom is an enthusiastic naturalist and can often be found undertaking breeding bird, small mammal or botanical surveys throughout Somerset, holding both a hazel dormouse and great crested newt handling licence. Tom has a particular interest in woodland management and landscape scale conservation projects, incorporating these interests into his work.
Will Barnard Moor Association Coordinator Expand Will has been closely involved with the grass-fed movement for more than five years and was an early director of the Pasture Fed Lovestock Association, overseeing development of their groundbreaking animal traceability software. To spread the word about the benefits of grass-fed foods he set up the company GrassRoots Food in association with Graham Harvey, and published the book The Carbon Fields. Having transitioned the family farm into a hub for a novel, collaborative land management system on a SSSI near the the mouth of the river Parrett, he is now working to facilitate others who are interested in the opportunities afforded by similar ideas, across the Somerset Levels and Moors within the Co-Adapt project.
Zara Blackmore Assistant Farm Environment Adviser Expand Zara joined FWAG in June 2022 after graduating from the Royal Agricultural University with a degree in Agriculture. She provides assistance to other advisers in the team and supports the Hills to Levels project in Somerset. She has an agricultural background being born on a mixed farm in Wiltshire and now living on a beef and sheep farm on Exmoor, running her own flock of sheep which are shown throughout the summer.