Mike Bridgen reports on 40 years of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

ONE of the most respected independent advisory bodies for farmers is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) was originally set up to improve relations between farmers and naturalists.

The Government-led, postwar drive for food production was a huge success for the population – but not wildlife.

Widespread hedge removal and heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers saw it decline, along with relations between farmers and conservationists.

Lord Barber of Tewkesbury has been involved with FWAG since the start.

He recalled how, in 1967, two farm advisers met RSPB reserve managers to see how farmer relations could be improved.

Writing in FWAG’s 40th anniversary magazine, he explained how, at the time, some wildlife work was being done on farms “here and there”.

“But generally 40 years ago, farmers saw the conservation camp as being filled with emotional people wringing their hands over hedge removal and failing to appreciate farming’s problems,” he wrote.

The RSPB agreed to host a weekend at its Sandy headquarters to which a select band of farmers and naturalists were invited to see what could be done.

They decided on a national conference which, delayed by foot-and-mouth, finally took place at Silsoe College in July 1969.

Lord Barber said it was a memorable event.

“Over 100 members from both sides, including the leaders of the main organisations and the significant presence of the head of the Agricultural Ministry, argued and planned from a hot Friday afternoon until Sunday evening,” he wrote.

“It was a remarkable achievement and given wide publicity in the national press. The show was on the road and the concept of FWAG was now becoming a reality.

“Subsequent public funding was obtained to add to the remarkable efforts by farmers in the counties to raise money for the employment of FWAG advisers, eventually covering the whole of the UK.

Quite a story.”

Phil Lyth has been a FWAG adviser in North Yorkshire for 23 years and has seen the role grow over the years.

In the early days, and with the introduction of Countryside Stewardship in the 1990s, much of the advisory work centred on hedgerows, ponds and tree planting.

That still goes on today, but it increasingly also involves helping farmers apply for ever more complex agrienvironmental schemes.

Such applications can involve Mr Lyth walking over every inch of a farm to see what features can be included and to draw up detailed plans.

There is also growing involvement in soil management, renewable energy and carbon audits.

The five FWAG advisers in Yorkshire are developing their own specialist areas of work to give their 500 farmer members access to even greater levels of independent expertise.

Kath and Karl Peacock, of North Lowfields Farm, between Great Langton and Kirkby Fleetham, joined FWAG in the 1990s.

The 405-acre mixed farm includes 220 fattening bulls, 200 sheep, and just over 200 acres of cereals. All the feed for the stock is mixed and grown on the farm.

The River Swale cuts through the land and it was during an otter survey that they heard about Countryside Stewardship and contacted Mr Lyth.

He has advised them ever since.

Mrs Peacock said: “We realised it fitted in quite well with existing farm practices – we did not use many fertilisers since our soil is very light and the investment would be lost by leaching.

“We also welcomed children from the village school, so educational access was an obvious option.

“FWAG supported us all the way, helping to produce a farm profile for visitors. In subsequent years, we were used by FWAG to host events and FWAG has advised us on many environmental issues, negotiating help and advice on river conservation.”

In 2001, they entered another ten-year stewardship agreement, extending it over the entire farm.

“Phil did a whole farm survey and made recommendations on options that would suit us,” said Mrs Peacock. “It felt good to be ahead of the game. When farmers were encouraged to apply for entry level schemes, we were already there.”

The Peacocks have planted 2½km of hedgerow, planted several new woodlands, created field margins, restored the orchard and developed ponds – the most recent was to replace riverbank visits which health and safety regulations had made too difficult to continue.

The Peacocks have sometimes wondered about the financial impact of stewardship – the rules mean they cannot fatten lambs on the riverbanks and the nutrient quality of grass has declined.

“The constant checks by inspectors can also be a trial, but, overall, to see the effect on the environment is gratifying,”

said Mrs Peacock.

“The hedges are attractive and the margins seem to be improving, which is good for public relations.”

Mr Peacock said the conservation work had definitely benefited the farm.

“I like to think when I am no longer here people will see the hedges and woods we have planted and enjoy them,” he said.

Tim Brown, of Agglethorpe Hall, in Coverdale, is another of Mr Lyth’s long-standing clients.

The upland enterprise includes suckler beef, Swaledale sheep and 500 acres of moorland.

The farm was originally in Countryside Stewardship, which involved them reducing the moorland sheep from 580 to 400.

“It had a big impact, but back then Swaledale lambs were not that profitable,” said Mr Brown. “Now, it’s a fine line between what we get from the scheme and what the sheep price is.

“These schemes encourage farmers to take sheep off the moors, but there is getting to be a shortage of these breeds, which is driving the price up.”

The farm, which is now in higher level stewardship, has carried out many improvements which have benefited the heather moor and grouse.

Planting woodland in the ghylls and on the edge of the moor has also attracted black grouse back to the area. “Phil has done an excellent job,”

said Mr Brown.

Mr Lyth, who has walked every piece of the moor, said: “One of the benefits of FWAG is that we have been around for a long time and I hope that continuity helps.”

● FWAG in Yorkshire has just moved from Northallerton to new offices in Thirsk Rural Business Centre. Telephone 01845-527850 or 525950.