A project that works alongside farmers in Wiltshire and Dorset to improve opportunities for declining farmland bird species has been given a boost from Wessex Water’s biodiversity funding programme.
The South Wiltshire Farmland Conservation Project (SWFCP), run by Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), has been chosen as a project for phase five of the water company’s Partners Programme.
Wessex Water has supported the project since 2010 which to date has created over 1000 hectares of farmland habitat and involved work with 147 farms to deliver environmental improvements.
The next stage of funding will see the project continue to improve habitats on agricultural land which will enhance wildlife populations including the declining arable bird species as well as help reduce pollution going into rivers.
The project will also deliver a pollutions solution programme where local farmers are provided with the skills and equipment to test water flows from their land for chemicals and other pollutants so that they are able to reduce the amount reaching sensitive rivers, benefitting both wildlife and river water quality.
Regulatory scientist Dave Jones at Wessex Water commented:
"The work achieved by The South Wiltshire Farmland Conservation Project not only benefits the declining farmland bird population but it also tackles the increasingly important issue of diffuse pollution from agriculture through an innovative farmer-led approach. “
"As we continue our investment to improve river water quality, the project will also complement our catchment work in the Dorset Stour and Hampshire Avon and also provide wildlife benefits along our pipeline from Corfe Mullen to Salisbury to reduce the impact of our construction works on this project, which is a part of our water supply grid scheme to safeguard future water supply for customers."
To date the Partners Programme, which provides financial support to develop projects that benefit the environment within Wessex Water’s region, has helped more than 30 conservation projects.