18.05.04
David Bellamy encourages Cornish farmers to find out about the economic benefits of helping the environment

Cornish farmers are being encouraged to carry out environmental improvements on their farms with the promise that it will save them money.

The distinguished environmentalist Professor David Bellamy OBE is officially launching a new initiative, called the Farm Environment Link (FEL), this week. FEL aims to identify ways of boosting farm profits from measures that also benefit wildlife.

The project is being organised by Cornwall's Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), and has been invested in by the Environment Agency, Objective One, DEFRA and Cornwall County Council.

A specialist team will visit over 600 farms across Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly over the next three years, looking at ways of reducing the amount of energy, water and nutrients used.

Capital grants provided by the Environment Agency will be made available to eligible farmers for improvement schemes that can be shown to deliver economic and environmental benefits.

All initial visits to farms and the advisory reports produced will be free. Where the potential is identified for economically beneficial measures to be carried out, a follow-up survey will look at nutrient levels in soil and slurry from the farm to encourage the adoption of nutrient, waste and soil management plans.

Sonia Thurley from the Environment Agency said: "There is still a fear amongst some sections of the farming population that making improvements that benefit the environment will cost money. But this is not true. For example simple measures to save water and electricity bring benefits all round and may be easier to put in place than the farmer imagines. This project is a good hands-on way of encouraging farmers to make changes, and by giving grants we hope to see real developments in the near future.”

Jillie Dale from FWAG said: "FWAG was set up 30 years ago by a group of farmers who wanted to share ideas on how to benefit wildlife and save money. Despite the massive changes in farming practice since then, this aim is still as relevant as ever. The FEL project will move our goals on a stage further and will also ensure Cornish farms maintain a competitive edge.

The project is managed by farmers for farmers, based on the understanding that conservation need not compromise the farm's commercial objectives. The advice that FWAG provides is tailor-made to suit the type of farm and location, as well as the farmer's aspirations, commitment and pocket.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership said: "We welcome the launch of this project. It will raise awareness of the financial benefits that can be achieved through implementing new environment management measures within farming, something that will have a real, sustainable impact on Cornish farms.”

The project will be launched at the Lobbs Farm Shop and Heligan Countryside Barn, St Austell, Cornwall on Friday, 21st May from 10.00am to 2.30pm (adjacent to the Heligan Gardens Car park). Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend.

PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY:
10.00-11.00am Arrive, Coffee and Displays
     
11.00-12.00am Presentations by:
Mike Cherry,
Cornwall FWAG Chairman
   
James Money-Kyrle,
FWAG Chief Executive
   
Project Advisers:
Stephen Burchett,
Rosalie Goldsworthy,
Edward Strawbridge
Prof David Bellamy
     
12.00-1.00pm Buffet Lunch  
     
1.00-2.30pm All weather trailer tour of Kestle farm and farm machinery demonstration courtesy of Cornwall Farmers Ltd.

The New FELP Team have been in place since February and are delivering advice throughout the county and would welcome enquiries on 01872 275475.

Editor's notes:

For further information please contact Jillie Dale at FWAG on 01326 373823.

Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mob: 07973 813647
Tel: 01579 370991

lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

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