Guest Blog: Wyescapes; Food, Nature, Water

The landscapes of the Wye are synonymous with farming. Farming that has adapted and evolved as a result of innovation, government policy, global politics, the economy and many other drivers over the years. Now climate and changing weather patterns are driving rapid change too, those farming in the floodplain are at the front line.

Farming in the floodplain has become increasingly high risk; volatile markets, cost of production combined with the increasing likelihood of crop loss due to flood inundation. In response to the pressure these factors put on farm businesses and the deteriorating condition of the rivers themselves, in summer 2023 an application was made to DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery scheme.

The Landscape Recovery scheme presents an entirely new way of working; putting landowners in the driving seat to design bespoke and ambitious stewardship schemes that use a blend of government and private funding to enable long term changes to land management.

The Landscape Recovery scheme provides an opportunity to develop and secure alternative business models and income streams that would help businesses capitalise the natural assets on their land. The more these assets are protected and enhanced the higher their potential value.

Wyescapes brings together forty landholdings spanning the county from north to south, following the floodplains from Leominster to Hereford and all the way to Symmonds Yat. The participating land managers have collectively put forward 5000ha of their land on which they will decide the changes they would deliver. From initial discussions we think this could involve a combination of one, two or several of the below actions, recognising that farmers know their land better than anyone and will normally come up with better suited and more innovative suggestions than an external adviser. So the below list is a starter, which individuals will tailor and build on to suit their holding:

The greater the level of intervention the greater the likely payment rate.

The participating land holdings are now in a two year development phase during which, supported by their lead organisation Herefordshire Rural Hub, they will:

• Complete baseline land surveys and finalise what action would be taken where – this activity is supported by project partners Herefordshire Meadows, Wye & Usk Foundation and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
• Design the scheme structure and rates of funding (both capital and revenue) required for management changes
• Develop the governance and legal structures required to hold funds and management agreements that would enable long term land management change
• Secure private investment to match DEFRAs contribution
• Consider wider engagement and access opportunities

Those participating in the development phase are not committed to signing up to the implementation phase, however the ambition is that a proposal is developed that satisfies the participating land manager's needs, DEFRA’s requirements and the aspirations of any private funders. The project would then be awarded a long-term implementation agreement, at which point (approx early 2026) it would start delivering the actions on the ground. Implementation agreements are expected to be long term (20 years+).