FARMERS in the River Wear catchment area have been urged to help reduce soil erosion and agricultural run-offs.

The Wear Rivers Trust says simple changes to land management techniques will help prevent harm to river plants and animals – and save the farmer money.

The Wear catchment area runs 60 miles from the river’s source at Wearhead in the eastern North Pennines to the sea at Sunderland. It includes many streams and major tributaries of the Rivers Browney and Gaunless.

Peter Nailon, Trust director and trustee, said arable and livestock farming is the main industry now but the industrial heritage of coal and lead mining, and limestone quarries, still contribute heavy metal into the watercourse.

“This is a historical problem but the issue of agricultural chemical run-offs is a current one,” he said, “We want farmers to work with us to solve it.

“Private water sources can be particularly at risk from agricultural run-offs, which then get into the wider watercourse and can harm fish, water plants and invertebrates.

There are also consequences for the wider local economy – nobody will want to go fishing or boating in polluted parts of the river.”

He said farmers should understand the different soil profiles across their farm, use Precision Farming techniques to apply inputs only where needed and, where possible, use farmyard manure rather than chemical-based alternatives.

Avoid using too much metaldehyde – a common slug and snail killer – too close to watercourses or areas of run-off, as water companies cannot remove it from drinking water. If problems persist, it is likely to face a ban.

However, Mr Nailon said preventing chemical run off was only the first step – recent years of flooding show more needs to be done to tackle soil erosion and slow the run-off from fields into rivers and streams.

“Sowing winter crops on land that would otherwise be left bare, for example, can capture excess nitrogen, improve soil structure and reduce runoff.

“Cover crops can reduce nitrate leaching by 50pc, enabling you to reduce fertiliser application, increase organic matter and potentially save money.”

Soil erosion and run-off can also be slowed by grassing field corners and areas where water collects. Grassing natural drainage pathways will also prevent rills and gullies from forming and provide extra habitats for farmland birds and wildlife.

Buffer strips will slow, filter and trap pollutants and livestock farmers should consider fencing off rivers and streams to prevent animals polluting the water and eroding riverbanks.

Mr Nailon said: “None of these measures are expensive and many of them will actually save you money. Often, action taken to help the environment will also benefit a farm’s bottom line too.”

The Trust works with the Environment Agency, Northumbria Water, councils and the community to protect and improve the landscape and watercourses in the catchment area.