Our campaign will at all times support and champion farmers working to improve land for nature. As a Trust we are working to build collaborative relationships and collaborative solutions to the challenges both nature and our communities face.
In November, around 60 people joined us for a screening of BBC Wales' What's Killing Our Rivers at De Koffie Pot in Hereford.
We've continued to highlight issues including the continuing affects of last summer's drought on the River Wye.
Hundreds of our supporters have emailed their MPs directly or sent them a #Defendnature postcard.
We've responded to Avara's Manure Management Plan and invited them to meet with us.
On 4th February around 50 people attended our Defend Nature Community Meeting in Hereford to develop ideas. Those discussed included:
- Build and communicate a vision for a Wilder Herefordshire - biodiversity gains, green corridors, society and nature as one, not separate entities
- A charter for our rivers
- Demand support for nature in the run up to the local elections in May
- Support farmers and landowners, encourage them to showcase their good practice and provide support for nature friendly approaches
- Influence supermarkets and other retailers
- Scrutinise Avara's manure plan
- Share concerns about new Intensive Poultry Units
- Focus on the role of planning in protection of nature
- Publicise the plight of nature in local and national media and through social media
- Contribute to the national agenda for nature - promote ELMS (Environmental Land Management Schemes) and authorities in England & Wales working together
BBC Countryfile dedicated a whole episode to the plight of the Wye entitled Troubled Waters. This showcased the practical work the Trust continues to undertake improving riverside habitats, restoring natural processes and effecting nature-based solutions in the Lugg Valley. The programme also met with a number of other campaign groups, farmers and representatives from the statutory agencies describing the issues from every side.
In March, we held meetings with both Jesse Norman MP and Sir Bill Wiggin MP to discuss our concerns and how we can work together.
Over the summer, we'll be attending the Annual General Meetings of national retailers to ask them to work with us to Recover our Rivers directly.
