Farming Clusters
Ash Valley Farming Cluster
The Ash Valley farmer group is working collaboratively to deliver landscape-scale environmental benefits, hosting farmer-led events and workshops on priorities such as soil health, regenerative farming, and chalk stream restoration. The group aims to create a baseline habitat map of the catchment and identify opportunities to improve connectivity through a network of habitat corridors extending from the river.
Farmers within the River Ash catchment who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact facilitator George Gillott.
River Beane Farmer Cluster
Since 2021, FWAG East has been working with Thames Water on the Catchment Fund Project to help farmers across the Lee catchment improve and protect water quality, particularly by reducing pesticide runoff into rivers such as the Beane, Rib & Quin, Ash, Stort, Pincey Brook, Cobbins Brook and the Lower Lee. The project provides funding for new land management practices—including cover crops, herbal leys and companion cropping—as well as farm infrastructure upgrades, equipment and innovative solutions.
Farmers within these catchments who would like to get involved can contact George Gillott, Project Officer at FWAG East.
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Colne Valley Farming Cluster
In development. We are hoping to begin cluster activites in early 2026.
East Beds Clay Vale and Rhee Farm Cluster
The East Bedfordshire River Rhee and Clay Vale cluster was set up in May 2024 and is currently in its second year of funding by Anglian Water. So far, baseline habitat mapping has been undertaken across a significant area of the cluster, with more planned for spring/summer 2026. The water quality and biodiversity of the River Rhee and its tributaries are a uniting interest of the cluster members, who have recently taken part in a Rothamsted Research project investigating turbidity in the catchment.
North Northamptonshire Farm Cluster
River Beane Farmer Cluster
Since 2021, FWAG East has been working with Thames Water on the Catchment Fund Project to help farmers across the Lee catchment improve and protect water quality, particularly by reducing pesticide runoff into rivers such as the Beane, Rib & Quin, Ash, Stort, Pincey Brook, Cobbins Brook and the Lower Lee. The project provides funding for new land management practices—including cover crops, herbal leys and companion cropping—as well as farm infrastructure upgrades, equipment and innovative solutions.
Farmers within these catchments who would like to get involved can contact George Gillott, Project Officer at FWAG East.
