The GREAT Project

The GREAT Project offers free and subsidised support for regenerative agriculture to farmers in Gloucestershire.

GREAT stands for Gloucestershire Regenerative Environment and Agriculture Transition. It’s a three-year project, funded by Thirty Percy, to boost the transition to farming methods that restore the soil, water and air. We want to join to dots between farmers, advisors, growers, mentors and their communities to facilitate this change that is so sorely needed for a resilient future for farms, nature and the earth. The project will make Gloucestershire a leading county in regenerative agriculture, which is a growing farming movement that emphasises building soil carbon and structure.

The project has three core aims: build evidence, facilitate knowledge exchange, and nurture enterprise.

GREAT has launched its offer of free and subsidised advice, knowledge exchange, mentoring and enterprise support. It also features an education bursary and a small grants scheme for those seeking small amounts of cash for farm-based enterprises, such as start-up costs or crucial pieces of equipment. Although the project’s offerings are free or subsidised only to those farming in Gloucestershire, many of their events are available to anybody at full cost.

In addition to its knowledge exchange events, led by Oxon-based trailblazers, FarmED, the project is offering a series of ‘enterprise bootcamps’ and webinars, led by the School of Enterprise at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU). The first bootcamp is set to begin on 10th September 2021, with 20 spaces free to those in Gloucestershire.

From autumn 2021, new entrants to farming will be able to sign up for mentoring and advice on accessing land. Those already farming in Gloucestershire can already access free advice from FWAG SouthWest or join a mentoring programme so that those beginning the transition to regenerative agriculture can benefit from the support of their peers.

Project Manager, Bea Oliver ([email protected]), invites Gloucestershire farmers, landowners, growers and individuals looking to start a rural food enterprise, to get in touch to find out where The GREAT Project can help you in your regenerative journey. Visit www.greatglos.co.uk or speak to your FWAG advisor to find out more. Follow the twitter for up to date information @GREATglos

Latest

[11.04.24] Wessex Water: River Tone, Parrett and Yeo Phosphorus Reduction Scheme

FWAG SW are working with Wessex Water and farmers in sub-catchments of the Rivers Tone, Parrett and Yeo to reduce phosphorus (P) runoff from farmyards, tracks and fields by three tonnes per year by 2025. Click here to read more...
Wessex Water: Tone, Parrett and Yeo Phosphorus Reduction Scheme

FWAG SW advisers are working with Wessex Water and farmers in sub-catchments of the Rivers Tone, Parrett and Yeo to reduce P runoff from farmyards, tracks and fields by three tonnes per year by 2025.
Award evening celebrates our Silver Pintail winner for 2023

In March we gathered at Harts Barn, Gloucestershire to announce the winner of the 2023 Silver Pintail Award for farming and conservation. Click here to read the full blog...
Farmland Bird Identification Event at Frampton Court Estate

A fantastic day of farmland bird identification with our knowledgeable & passionate guides, Gordon Kirk, regional representative from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Richard Hollis, FWAGSW’s trainee Farm Environment Advisor in Cornwall. The discussions offered guidance on distinguishing common farmland birds through visual observations and contrasting calls.

Hedgerow heroes

FWAG SW is working together with the countryside charity to make use of the grants received from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Gloucestershire, in a mission to plant and restore hedgerows in Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire Food and Farming Partnership

FWAG SW works in collaboration with the Gloucestershire Food and Farming Partnership, to connect a network of voices with a diversity of expertise including those of institutions, organisations, businesses, groups and communities across the region to build and champion a sustainable food and farming future for the county of Gloucestershire.
Thames Water Catchment Fund

Thames Water, in collaboration with FWAG SW, is working diligently to improve water quality in specific target areas while also enhancing farm productivity, efficiency, and biodiversity. As part of this initiative, funds have been earmarked for priority catchment groups, each with a distinctive focus on nitrates, pesticides, or both.
People and Woods

The people and woods programmes aims to address the lack of skilled labour in the forestry sector. These valuable skills are needed to address the huge objectives to increase tree cover, as these new woodlands need planting and managing by trained individuals, in order to meet climate targets and improve biodiversity.
Collaboration for Climate Change Action

Building on the Environmental Land Management Landscape Recovery Test and Trial phases 1-2, the Collaboration for Climate Change Action funded by the Farming in the Protected Landscapes (FiPL) aims to produce a baseline habitat map for all the farmers using UK Habitat Classification, in line with Cotswold’s AONB Landscape Character and Guidelines.
Boost For Biodiversity – Lower Avon

This project aims to enhance and create wetland features such as scrapes, ponds and ditches across 60ha of farmed landscape with the intention of boosting breeding wader biodiversity in the Lower Avon Vales of Evesham, along with secondary goals to improve water quality and natural flood management.
Boost for Biodiversity – Bredon Hill

Following FiPL funded (Farming in Protected Landscapes) Bredon Hill Bird Recovery initiative, funded by Farming in the Protected Landscapes, which identified bird species, populations, and areas needing further habitat enhancement on Bredon hill and in the Lower Avon Vales of Evesham.
GREAT Project Zerodig

A new seven-acre market garden is being laid out in a field at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), Cirencester. This project aims to boost Nature-Friendly Food Production, Strengthen Local Economy, and Foster Community Collaboration for Sustainable, Healthy Food. Click here to read more...
Bredon Hill Bird Recovery Project

Bredon Hill offers a diverse landscape for breeding and migratory birds. Many of these species are in decline and often struggle to find nesting sites and adequate food resources. The aim of the project is to restore, maintain and create new habitat for a variety of bird species that use Bredon Hill and the surrounding areas.
Optimal Shelterbelts

The most important outcome of this trial will be to demonstrate that a mosaic of OSB / historic hedgerow “wildlife corridors” supported by wildlife friendly field margins will form a key natural reservoir bolstering many native species and biodiversity.

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.
Mission and vision

FWAG SouthWest seeks to support, enthuse and inspire fellow farmers to value the environmental assets on their land and use them to secure sustainable and profitable businesses for the future.
Farm Plastic Recycling Scheme

The first FWAG Farm Plastic Recycling Scheme began in 2004 and has taken place annually ever since. The aim of the scheme is to provide farmers with a responsible, environmentally sound way to recycle plastic, preventing it from going to landfill. The scheme is simple and straight forward, with no membership fees so the farmers only pay for the plastic they bring.
Countryside Stewardship

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.
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.
Kingfisher Project

The Kingfisher Award Scheme (KAS) provides children with the opportunity to go onto farms to explore the natural world.
Jenny Phelps

Senior Farm Environment Adviser & Glos Team Leader
Chief Executive Officer
Somerset Catchment Partnership

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

Our advisers are located throughout the south west, and cover Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.