FWF - Upper Soar
Location
Farming for the Future in the Upper Soar, upstream of the City of Leicester
The first delivery project of the ‘Farming and Water for the Future Project’ has recently started on the upper tributaries of the River Soar. Our Project Officer Andy Jackson is working with farmers to develop a number of farm-based projects that can store water after rain. All projects are being developed in conjunction with landowners and compliment the existing management of the farm. Andy is targeting land on the Whestone Brook and the Broughton Astley Brook. These rivers have been selected as having the greatest potential to store water and slow down surface water flows that may reduce the risk of flooding to a number of properties downstream.
As well as reducing flood risk, the intention of the work is to achieve other environmental benefits at the same time. Most of the work developed is likely to form part of a Higher Level Stewardship grant from Defra to enhance the landscape, heritage and biodiversity value on the farm as well as provide a regular annual income. Where appropriate improvements for access to Rights of Way will also be generated where the farmers has an interest in doing so. The project has been designed around promoting ‘ecosystem services’, i.e. encouraging natural process on farms in a sustainable way that contribute to its wider environmental, social and economic impact.
This project is being funded by Natural England, the Environment Agency and Leicestershire County Council.
If you would like to talk to Andy about the project or arrange meeting then please email him on Andy.Jackson@leics.gov.uk or telephone him on 0116 3057221.
