Helping farmers, growers and landowners with sustainable, catchment-sensitive farming.

Water for people and wildlife

The Eastern Yar and the Medina are home to some of the Island's rarest and most distinctive wildlife. But habitats and wildlife can be damaged by water pollution, low water availability, or inappropriate management.

Water from the Eastern Yar and Medina catchments provides most of the Island's drinking water, but it can easily be polluted by human activities. Pollution from silt, pesticides, fertiliser or manure causes problems for both the public water supply and wildlife. The Island's people, farmers and wildlife can only flourish when there is also enough water available.

Farming for people and wildlife

We need to manage water so that we have enough for our own use, but in ways which also allow wildlife to thrive. Sustainable farming means sustainable water use.

Farming subsidies in the past may not have helped to conserve soil and water, but Environmental Stewardship can encourage more sustainable land management.

Free advice and information for farmers, growers and landowners

The Isle of Wight Land Care Project aims to help farmers, growers and landowners in the Medina and Eastern Yar catchments make the most of the new opportunities that Environmental Stewardship and other agri-environment schemes can offer. We can provide free advice and information about land management practices which will conserve and improve soil, water and wildlife, and respond to climate change.

Isle of Wight Land Care can help farmers, growers and
landowners to:

• Produce soil management plans
• Meet Single Payment Scheme Cross Compliance requirements for soil and water
• Comply with legislation, including the Water Framework Directive
• Reduce diffuse water pollution, especially from silt, nutrients and pesticides.
• Conserve water and increase water availability, especially during the summer.
• Manage wildlife habitats.
• Protect and increase biodiversity.
• Reduce flooding and flood risk.

Free Workshops

IW Land Care invites Island farmers, growers and landowners to free workshops and farm visits on soil management plans, nutrient and manure management plans, and water conservation.
Farm management plans earn points towards Entry Level Stewardship and are also available within Higher Level Stewardship at 3 points or £3 per hectare for soil management plans, and 2 points or £2 per hectare for nutrient management plans and manure management plans. And of course the real point of the plans is to make better use of land, and to save money by targeting fertilisers and manure where they will be used most effectively, as well as reducing pollution.
Farmers only use a small proportion of the water taken from the Island's rivers and groundwater, but every drop of water conservation helps, and reduces farm costs. To book, or for more details visit the workshop page.

Contact Us

For free advice and information, or to share your own knowledge and ideas:
call 01983 298098 ext.114 or email: rowan@island2000.org.uk

Isle of Wight Land Care Project,
Island 2000,
Venture Quays,
Castle Street,
East Cowes,
Isle of Wight,
PO32 6EZ

Grants

View a summary of agri-environment scheme options to conserve soil and
water on the Isle of Wight.
Download the pdf

Funded by the Environment Agency April 2006 - December 2008