The NNCG brings together farmers and landowners to farm sustainably while doing their bit for nature recovery. Through workshops, events and practical demonstrations we help farmers access the latest knowledge, technology and ideas so they can farm their land but also support the natural world.
Our fundraising bid is to enable us to run more of these high quality workshops to increase and widen environmental knowledge among farmers - who are in the best place to deliver change to the natural world.
We have already run a large number of events and workshops to great effect but we need funding to enable us to both continue and extend the work being carried out. All the workshops are free to attendees and we have extended our audience to community environmental groups, parish councils and trusts.
While we have a wide-reaching brief, the focus of this project is to increase connectivity across the farmed landscape. We recognise that nature doesn't recognise human-imposed boundaries so we are supporting collaboration between neighbouring farmers through developing a network of habitat corridors. These could be hedgerows, flower margins, beetle banks or ponds.
With the money we raise, we can increase the knowledge of the farmers by running workshops and bringing in experts; we can measure and monitor the impact of the work and circulate the findings to the wider public through a series of monitoring activities; and we can work with volunteer and community groups on specific work streams - such as pond creation or hedge planting.
There are benefits for farmers, communities and nature. Margins, hedgerows and ponds support a wide range of invertebrates including pollinators and crop pest predators. By enhancing the habitat for these species, farmers will be repaid through better crop growth and reduced reliance on chemical inputs. Hedgerows also offer protection from wind and rain, thus preventing soil erosion.
For communities, a better soil structure, plus the ability of margins and hedgerows to remove any chemicals from water run-off will mean cleaner water ways. There is also the well-being associated with being able to witness and enjoy the natural world. Better margins, better hedgerows and more trees will make for a much better landscape.
For nature the benefits are obvious: a network of connectivity will allow species to move, populate and thrive. This will increase biodiversity and start to reverse the damage that has been done to the natural world over the past few decades.
One side benefit we see emanating from these projects is the opportunity to work with local community groups for health - mental and physical purposes - because there will be opportunities for voluntary work in an outdoor environment. This could be tree planting, hedge planting, pond building or monitoring activities.
Outcomes
Through collaborative activities we aim to increase the number and quality of hedgerows across the NNCG area - some 65,000 hectares. We also aim to increase the number, variety and quality of margins, in line with guidance from ecological experts. This will mean the correct arable plants are being grown in the best places to get maximum benefit for nature. We also will be working with other bodies to promote the development and creation of ponds and scapes so the there is access to water for birds, mammals and invertebrates even during the driest periods.
Communicating our work
On our website www.nncg.org.uk, we will provide regular updates on the work, the progress and any volunteering opportunities.
Links with the local community
We will be encouraging volunteers to get involved with the projects as well as linking with groups (schools, organisations etc) so the work being done is both understood and appreciated. In this way, some of the connection between farming and the local community can be rebuilt.