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 started working for FWAG in 2006 initially on the Somerset Levels and Moors helping farmers to access Higher Level Stewardship to manage wet grasslands for Wintering and Breeding Waders, most of his advisory work has been with upland farmers on Exmoor managing grassland, moorland and woodlands. As Head of Advisory Services he represents FWAG SouthWest and members of the national FWAG association on a range of Defra and RPA stakeholder groups, providing technical input into the development and operation of agri-environment schemes and other government funding for farmers. Outside of FWAG Adam is a Founder Director of Wellington Community Food and Community Supported Agriculture project which started in 2023 and aims to be selling 60 veg boxes a week from 1ha of horticultural in 2024 and host 1,000 school children from neighboring schools.
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 has worked with farmers since 2010 to develop land management strategies and specifications which deliver for both wildlife and farm businesses. She has a broad range of skills developed over 17 years as an ecological specialist for NGOs and local authorities across the UK. Alison specialises in botanical surveys, habitat restoration and creation (particularly grasslands), habitat surveys and condition assessments, managing priority habitats and managing habitats for priority species. She provides advice on agri-environment funding and grants (Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier and Higher Level) and has experience of developing farmer groups.
Anna Lantaff Farm Environment Adviser Expand Anna joined FWAG SW in March 2022, and currently works on the Somerset Levels and Moors providing project and mapping support to other advisers, administration for the Moor Associations, and agri-environment advice. Prior to working with FWAG she worked as a commercial archaeologist in East Anglia, before becoming interested in regenerative agriculture.
Anne May Farm Environment Adviser Expand Anne has been working for FWAG since early 2018, mainly working across Exmoor and north Devon. She offers a wide range of advice on topics including agri-environment schemes advice and application support, habitat management, on-farm water quality improvements, soil management and assessments, grassland surveys, moorland management, grassland management, etc. She works 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. And also on the Reviving Exmoor’s Heartlands Landscape Recovery project. Before joining the FWAG team Anne graduated from Harper Adams University having studied Countryside Management BSc Hons. She has worked for the Exmoor National Park Authority mapping moorland vegetation change from aerial photography. She farms on Exmoor with her husband on an upland beef and sheep farm, with native breed pigs. They have on-farm experience of improving biodiversity, herbal leys, rotational grazing, and diversification.
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.
George Caruth Farm Environment Adviser Expand George has recently Joined the Somerset team and will be engaged in a range of Nature-based Solution and Natural Flood Management projects across the south west. He has a strong background in Landscape catchment management and Natural Capital. With a passion for fishing he has worked on rivers in Devon and Cornwall delivering and implementing NBS and NFM actions for a range of project funders. George looks forward to bring this data led background to support his new work, engage with the community and continue to provide resilience from climate change to our treasured farmland and wider landscape.
Hugo van Dorssen Natural Flood Management Community Adviser Expand Hugo works as a Natural Flood Management Community Adviser in Somerset on the Hills to Levels project to reduce localised flooding. He has recently completed a Masters in Regenerative Farming from Schumacher College. Alongside his role at FWAG Hugo runs a market garden in the Quantock Hills that has a seasonal veg box scheme and sells cut salads to local farm shops and restaurants.
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 FWAG in 2020 after six years working as an ecologist for a consultancy. Merle leads a project in the Upper Brue addressing issues of water quality and building resilience to climatic events through habitat creation and offering farmer advice. Merle also works on the Somerset Hills to Levels project in addition to setting up Agri-Environment Schemes. Merle completed a MSc in Aquatic Biology and Resource Management, is an Associate Member of CIEEM and is BASIS Soil and Water qualified.
Milly Bowden Senior Farm Environment Adviser Expand Milly joined FWAG in summer 2020 and works as a Senior Farm Environment Adviser for FWAG SW members and on projects such as Hills to Levels and Wessex Water’s Somerset Phosphorus Reduction Scheme. 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 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier schemes, Capital Grant Offers and the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
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 in 2016, working his way from assistant to senior adviser in Somerset. As a senior adviser, Tom has worked on a wide range of projects with a focus on the Quantock Hills, where he ran the local facilitation fund and helped deliver the E.L.M.S Test and Trial. Tom continues to work with Farmers in this area and around Somerset to promote nature recovery and sustainable land management. A previous career and qualifications in ecology has given Tom a passion for British wildlife and the natural world. Over the years this has developed into a specialism around habitat creation and management including woodland and heathlands.
Tom Shopland Natural Flood Management Community Adviser Expand Tom works as a Natural Flood Management Community Adviser in Somerset on the Hills to Levels project to reduce localised flooding. Following completion of a Masters in Ecological Design Thinking from Schumacher College, he has worked as a public engagement specialist for a landscape architect, enabling public participation in place planning.
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 Farm Environment Adviser Expand Zara joined FWAG in June 2022 after graduating from the Royal Agricultural University with a degree in Agriculture. She works mainly across Exmoor providing assistance to other advisers in the team, alongside supporting the Hills to Levels project in Somerset, and advising on the Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier and the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme including completing applications. 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.