Farmers join up on an unprecedented scale to hit government’s environmental targets

The launch of a groundbreaking farmer-led, catchment-scale conservation plan has been made possible by the formation of the Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), a natural capital cooperative representing 585 farmers across the UK. The EFG’s first Environmental Transition Plan measures the government’s goals of reversing biodiversity decline, improving water quality and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions against the stated commitment of EFG members in the Hampshire Avon catchment and demonstrates the farmers’ potential to meet and beat them.

Avon Valley farmer and EFG chairman Rob Shepherd says: “The Hampshire Avon Catchment was EFG’s first area and represents 102 farmers who between them manage 26% of that 175,000ha catchment, so they are critical to delivering the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. EFG provides a mechanism to allow them to join forces with a joined-up approach that can achieve much more than the sum of its parts. This plan is not another top-down desktop wish list but an expression of commitment by the farmers themselves who care passionately about their local environment and want to step up to maintain and improve the iconic habitats, wildlife and water systems on their land.”

Nature

Based on current farm conservation plans drafted for EFG members by its scientific advisory body the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), farmers are willing to put forward an average 5.5% of their land area for nature recovery in the catchment, over and above land in existing agri-environment schemes. The Environmental Transition Plan shows how by delivering a network of different types of habitats at this scale, 11 of the 13 Government targets for biodiversity recovery are achievable.

GWCT has developed a three-pronged approach: a whole-catchment network of motivated and collaborating farmers; a coherent species recovery plan; and a network of carefully located resilient habitats. In addition, its ecologists have identified ‘umbrella’ species for the catchment’s nine different ecosystems which will provide a focus and inspiration for landscape-scale conservation efforts.

GWCT CEO Nick von Westenholz says: “We believe the plan can work because the farmers already have an impressive track record of success in the region achieved through the Farmer Cluster structure developed by GWCT back in 2013. Farmer Clusters in the catchment have reversed the decline of red-listed species including lapwing, water voles and redshank and increased the number and range of rare butterflies. Connecting these initiatives under the catchment-scale EFG network is the logical next step and we look forward to supporting the farmers to make it happen.”

Water

Much pioneering work has also been done by Farmer Clusters in the catchment to improve the health of the famous chalk stream tributaries of the Hampshire Avon. Since 2023, farmers have started their own water quality testing programme on the Wylye, Nadder and Ebble tributaries, together with a stretch of the Lower Avon and will expand this to the Bourne in 2026.

Tim Palmer, farmer and EFG board water lead, says: “We are monitoring nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution using an on-farm laboratory. The aim is for farmers to inform themselves whether and how their farming operations might be contributing to nitrate, phosphates or sediment in the river, so that, if needed, they can take steps to reduce that.”

This winter, with funding from the Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust, GWCT hosted a Water Workshop for all the Cluster groups in the Avon catchment where farmers expressed a commitment to work collaboratively within and beyond the EFG to improve each of the 40 water bodies in the catchment.

Emissions

As part of the Transition Plan, EFG is adopting the NFU’s ambitious goal set out in 2019 of reaching net zero GHG emissions across the whole of agriculture in England and Wales by 2040. It will help farmers to improve productive ef­ficiency, reduce inputs and increase carbon storage through bigger hedgerows, more woodland, and more carbon-rich soil with funding from natural capital markets.

Fair reward for public goods

Former GWCT CEO and EFG board member Teresa Dent CBE, who coordinated the plan, says: “We are grateful to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for funding the development of this Environmental Transition Plan, which is the first step. Key to its long-term success will be the willingness of society to give farmers a fair reward for the delivery of these environmental goods and services.”

Natural Capital Advisory (NCA) brokers environmental trades for EFG. Its director, Christopher Sparrow, added: “Joining the EFG gives farmers a route to access the new natural capital markets, and EFG is starting to find some funding through that, but there is a long way to go. We hope Defra will recognise the innovation and potential of this large-scale, farmer-led approach, which is now being replicated across England and support its development with start-up funding.”

To download the Environmental Transition Plan and the Executive Summary, visit News & Resources on the EFG website.