THREE new projects working with farmers to protect drinking water have launched in West Cornwall.

Over the next five years, Cornwall Wildlife Trust will continue to work in partnership with farmers around Drift Reservoir near Penzance and start work in two new areas; the Falmouth Reservoirs at Penryn and around the Upper River Cober near Helston.

The projects are part of South West Water's Upstream Thinking initiative, where farmers joint-fund practical projects on their farms to reduce soil and slurry pollution of water courses in drinking water catchment areas. The projects often bring benefits to the farm businesses at the same time, for example harvesting rainwater from barn roofs can reduce mains water costs whilst also diverting clean water from slurry stores, minimising pollution risk.

Pete Warman, Upstream Thinking Project Manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust says,

“It is exciting to be at the start of a programme which makes so much sense. It has clear benefits to people, wildlife and farm businesses which makes us confident that the project will be a success.”

Cleaner streams and rivers are good for the wildlife which lives in the water and riverbank habitats, such as trout and otters. Improved water quality also benefits people who use rivers, reservoirs and beaches for recreation. Keeping rivers and streams in drinking water catchment areas cleaner can potentially reduce water treatment costs, which would benefit all South West Water’s customers.

The Project’s three Farm Advisers will be finding ways to improve water quality whilst also benefiting farm businesses. For example, we have found that offering free soil nutrient testing can sometimes demonstrate to a farmer that they can reduce application of artificial fertilisers. This saves the business money while also reducing the amount of fertiliser running off into rivers and causing problems.

Upstream Thinking Ecologists will survey farms for wildlife-rich areas, looking out for important habitats and species. Farmland is home to a wide range of wildlife like barn owls, bumble bees and wildflowers. Bees and other insects are important for pollinating many of our plants and crops. Ecologists talk to individual farmers and recommend how they can look after these important areas, or make small changes to make them even better for wildlife. Three enthusiastic teams of local volunteers will carry out hands-on conservation work on farms, helping to create and maintain areas for wildlife.

The Project team can also advise farmers on agri-environment grant schemes and support them in making successful applications. Schemes fund different land management options, for example they might pay a farmer each year to keep a strip of herb-rich grass between their field and a river. This provides a great wildlife habitat, while also naturally filtering pollutants from the water as it runs off the field.

The trust is appealing to farmers in these areas to contact them if they would like to get involved in the project. Contact Pete Warman on 01872 273939 ext. 255 for more information. Members of the public interested in working on the practical volunteer teams can contact David May on 01872 273939 ext. 201. For general Upstream Thinking enquiries contact upstreamthinking@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk