The Headwaters of the Exe project is part of South West Water’s Upstream Thinking programme which works with farmers and land managers to ensure good water quality and mitigate pressures on watercourses. The project area includes the Upper Exe, River Barle, River Haddeo, and smaller tributaries covering an area of over 27,500 ha.
We offer one-to-one advice and training, group events and site visits. We can tailor advice to suit your needs, based on topics around water quality and the environment.
Farm visits are tailored to the needs and aspirations of each holding. Focussed confidential advice could include grazing management, nutrients and manure management, yard infrastructure, soil husbandry, natural flood management and agri-environment schemes. Capital grants are available on a competitive basis for actions that will protect water quality including:
- Fencing off watercourses
- Installing and restoring ponds
- Roofing over manure stores
We also run workshops throughout the year on topics including agri-environment schemes, diverse swards, and soil management.
The key priority for the Headwaters of the Exe project is to improve raw water quality in the catchment. Agricultural inputs such as farmyard manure, artificial fertilisers, pesticides, and veterinary medicines can end up in watercourses and rivers, causing negative impacts on habitats and water quality.
Through tailored advice, visits, and targeted grants, the project enables farmers to make use of natural solutions to reduce this agricultural impact on biodiversity and water quality alongside building long-term resilience into their farming systems.
For more information, or to request a visit about any of the topics above, please get in touch with FWAG Farm Environment Advisers, Anne May: anne.may@fwagsw.org.uk / 07717837603 or Rory Cox: rory.cox@fwagsw.org.uk / 07931253074
