Wensum Farmers were delighted to be joined by Norfolk Rivers Trust, Anglian Water, Natural England, Water Resources East and Norfolk Ponds Project in this collaborative meeting, looking at a recently restored section of river on a member’s land. 

This re meandered tributary used to be a dead straight land drain, and now boasts extra space for nature. Whilst there, we were treated to an Egret, Snipe and a Kingfisher: proof that nature finds its way back! The Rivers Trust have created a biodiversity oasis with small patches of exposed gravel for spawning fish, ponds and back flows to hold water in the landscape longer and aquatic fauna in fistfuls. 

The meadow is grazed by beautiful Highland cows and their feet create exposed muddy areas, perfect for the nests of various farmland birds. 

Important connections between our members, their projects and farms and the array of guest speakers were made and the chat over sandwiches and tea was inspiring and uplifting to hear. It is vital for a holistic approach between landowners, ecologists and policy makers to made, for the habitat connectivity work to benefit the maximum amount of people and wildlife. 

Thanks goes to all those who attended and spoke – we appreciate you take the time to join us on a wet September morning! 

How many times as a child have you dreamed of finding treasure in a hole you had dug? Imagining you were a lost explorer about to discover the greatest haul mankind has ever dug up? 

Throughout the month of August, Wensum Farmers have been doing just that. 

Digging through the soil horizons to that hidden Black Gold beneath, telling us a tale of the previous land custodians. How they dug down by hand to find the marl to spread on their fields as a form of lime, thereby creating a freshwater oasis for aquatic plants and invertebrates alike.

These ghost ponds can be found on old tithe maps dating back to the 1800s and speak to us about the history of the landscape we farm. 

It’s an honour to be able to resurrect these important habitats and it has been amazing to see the farmer enthusiasm and investment in this project. Having visitors from neighbouring farms coming to see what is going on, along with farming children and the local gamekeepers, goes to show how much the custodians care about the land they work on. 

In just one year we will see these raw looking holes develop into beautiful aquatic sanctuaries – watch this space for regular updates! 

A big thank you to Dr Carl Sayer, the Norfolk Ponds Project, Charlie Patel and Anglian Water for getting this project off the ground (or into it!) 

It has been a busy few weeks for the Wensum Farmers with a visit from Viridian Logic to explain baseline data retrieved from across the catchment plus an informative trip to a group members farm enterprise for a tour around their commercial deer herd, grant funded water storage improvements and a delicious BBQ to round off the evening.

We invited Angus from Viridian to come and speak to the group in order to further understand not only opportunities for natural habitat connectivity, but also the flow pathways and carbon sequestration data that his company had gleaned from the catchment. The farmers who attended were enthused and inspired and many have since gone on to download the software and zoom in to their own land parcels to delve deeper into the world of mapping and baseline data. The end goal will be understanding the opportunities for improvements that can be made to both benefit members individually and to further improve the environmental beauty of the Wensum valley. 

We have also been lucky enough to hold our summer social between rain showers. It was kindly hosted and sponsored by Savory Farms with an informative and light-hearted trip to their two farms. We looked at the impressive work undertaken throughout the covid pandemic to capture water on their livestock sheds and learnt about the highs and lows of commercial deer farming, even getting close to a day-old calf! The evening was rounded off with a tasty treat in the form of locally sourced beef strips and venison burgers. A huge thank you to John, Richard and their families for hosting and organising this wonderful evening. 

With Spring (finally!) making an appearance and the sun beaming down on us, the Wensum Farmers took a trip across the border to visit the very inspirational John Pawsey at Shimpling Park Farm. 

John is renowned for his innovative approach to farming organically and testing new and pioneering methods. We were treated to home made flapjacks and a farm walk, covering the machinery used, the environmental benefits, the use of livestock in his rotations, cover crops, under sowing and agroforestry.

We also touched on CTF farming, their Landscape Recovery project and the history of Shrimpling Park Farm.

A focus on viabilty and sistainabilty was apparent, with farmers assessing if these methods were financially and environmentally the best route to pursue. 

Despite the particularly wet spring the enthusiasm to learn and advise wasn’t dampened and the Wensum Farmers all left with a greater understanding of possible new techniques they could bring back to Norfolk. 

Hedges are one of the most important features in our landscape. When healthy and thriving – burst with food resource, offer shelter and protection and are a crucial part of our history and heritage. 

We at Wensum Farmers are making a commitment to rejuvenate sections of hedges in desperate need of new base growth. With two favourite techniques: conservation laying (by hand) and mechanical laying (with the help of a digger) we have been working through the driving February rain across three Wensum Farmer sites. 

Hedleys – our expert hedge layer cuts each hedge stem with a long downward slice and then its guided over to lay down. Stakes knocked into the ground support the freshly laid brash and young tree species are pruned and tided as he works. 

Mechanical laying is similar to conservation, the chainsaw makes the stem cut but the 5 tonne digger does the heavy work of guiding the brash over. 

Everyone has an opinion on ‘what a hedge should look like’ or ‘what makes a A* hedge’ meaning hedges are the perfect platform for a group meeting. At our group event last week, no amount of rain could stop us talking hedge laying! And brilliantly, there was enthusiasm for both techniques (mechanical and conservation laying). A majority vote show of hands at the end of the meeting proved that more farmers want to do more to rejuvenate our Wensum hedges. 

We are looking for a new Group Advisor - 

This is an exciting opportunity to join The Wensum Farmers Group; a highly successful, nationally recognised farmer-led collaboration working towards improving water quality and enhancing biodiversity in the beautiful river Wensum Catchment.  

The Farm Advisor will run, motivate, promote and drive the Wensum Farmers Group.  Working with each farmer on a 1:1 basis whilst managing the group as a whole the Advisor will deliver a set of objectives and priorities agreed during the monthly group meetings.

For the full job description and to find out how to apply click here. 

Winter: the time for hibernating at home with a cup of something warm to wrap your hands around. Not for the Wensum Farmers team! 

We have been out and about each week testing specifically chosen land drains on some of our farms for Phosphate and Nitrates. The project is still ongoing but so far, the results are eye-opening. The levels change significantly on a weekly basis, and this is due to a variety of factors including rainfall, nutrient input, and the health of the organic matter within the soil. 

We will keep you updated with our results as the project draws to a close in Spring. 

Meanwhile, it has been wonderful to visit some of the ghost ponds we started restoring 18 months ago and to see them blossom into freshwater oasis for aquatic plants and wildlife. 

The site pictured began as a dry arable margin hiding a beautiful secret spring. It has bloomed into this wonderful pond supporting countless species of plant and animal life and adding a layer of aesthetic beauty to the edge of this field. 

Aren’t ponds wonderful?!

We ended 2023 with a festive bang at our Christmas social. 

The inspirational Patrick Barker joined us for a thought-provoking talk about hedges, biodiversity and the symbiotic relationship between positive farming businesses and positive conservation work. 

His talk opened up new opportunities for us to pursue in 2024 and highlighted how far we have come since our conception in 2015. 

What a fantastic end to the year with thanks to Fakenham Racecourse for a delicious meal and a welcoming atmosphere. 

Onwards and upwards for Wensum Farmers!

The Wensum Farmers were delighted to join the North Norfolk Coastal Group earlier this Autumn, to visit the Ingol Wetlands project and listen to an inspiring talk at Wild Ken Hill about the benefits of regenerative agriculture.

Despite the torrential downpour, the navigation of flooded roadways and quite a few stuck cars, the turn out to this event speaks volumes about our farmers enthusiasm to learn.

The Ingol Wetlands is one of Norfolk Rivers Trust most successful projects to date and allows the water from the sewage treatment works to be cleaned through 4 pools containing over 25,000 native plants. It is purifying the water entering the river and has created a brand-new habitat to boot!

Ken Hill is renowned for their pioneering work in conservation and regenerative agriculture, and we heard about the positive results they have witnessed over the last four years, from the health of their soil to an increase of wildlife across the food chain. The Wensum group left feeling inspired (very damp!) and motivated to take these learnings and look at how they can be applied across the upper Wensum Valley.

A huge thank you to the North Norfolk Coastal group for organizing such an inspirational morning.

A year has passed since we restored this Wiken ghost pond. Our work has been transformational. From a weedy, water-logged and mis-understood piece of arable field it is now a freshwater paradise: a rich habitat mosaic of aquatic plants, invertebrates and farmland birds. 

Seeds lay dormant in a soil-bound time capsule for hundreds of years, awaiting water, light and oxygen. From the first trickle of pure chalk spring water, we watched the pond base fill. It was the perfect start for natural life to respond and begin the recovery into a diverse wildlife pond.

As custodians of the land-  farmers and land managers alike – we know pond restoration is one of the most effective forms of nature recovery. But it goes further than this. 

This type of pond restoration and creation is enjoyable and inspiring. These freshwater sites can blend into our food-producing businesses. How many times have you heard a farmer rue the nuisance of tricky areas with "I nearly got my tractor stuck in that hollow" or ‘That bit of the field always lies very wet" . Wensum Farmers have the solution: work with the worrisome wet spots to create something wonderful instead!

Now, we move on to our next potential ghost pond sites, to find hidden history, mis-understood patches of fields and connections with our ancestors – all whilst creating inter-connected highways of life between one revived pond and the next across our landscape!

From scented water mint to garlic smelling stonewort these sessions are part of ELM Test & Trial, where members get involved self-assessing their pond restorations by identifying different aquatic plants and invertebrates. 

Designed to develop a way that farmers across the country can gain autonomy and develop engagement in for pond restorations, this project has been great with lots of laughter and enthusiasm at our two pond self-assessment training sessions. 

Sent away with a worksheet and a request for photos, we are excited to see the results of all the amazing ponds we restored in 2022 and we will keep you updated with the self-assessment process as it develops. 

We joined Charles Sayer for a meadow and heath evening stroll to admire the habitat he has created.  

With 350 hectares, Sparham Hall has been in Environmental Stewardship since the beginning, the results of this are; spectacular species rich grassland brimming with biodiversity and an outstanding level of connectivity across the farm. 

During a species diversity game our farmers were challenged to count as many meadow plants within a one metre square quadrant (over 20 species of flora!) 

With our Landscape Recovery application on everyone’s minds, this walk was a wonderful way to cement the potential of what can be achieved. 

Meeting in May, we discussed the catchment water testing phosphate & nitrate results. Analysing each testing location, we explored what could have contributed to the result. Always insightful, these discussions are a fascinating way to understand the current health of the river Wensum and what more we and other sectors can do to improve it. 

With our Environmental Land Management (ELM) Test & Trial in its final year, we have been strategically discussing a Landscape Recovery (LR) pilot which has the potential to become a our most ambitious and exciting long term project. 

We have also recently welcomed Dani into the Wensum Farmers team! A background in both land-based industries and marketing, she will be working as an admin assistant to support group projects. 

As social scientist, working on the Wensum Farmers Test and Trial I have been supporting Lizzie (WF group advisor) with member interviews to learn about private finance and advice and guidance.  

The interesting findings show overall willingness and desire to undertake new blended private finance schemes but the main barrier is a lack of understanding. Specific details on payment rates, agreement length, verification and policing were among the aspects that participants would like clarity on.

During the interviews we delved into understanding what qualities farmers looked for in advisors and whether an existing, trusted advisor could advise on the new ELM (environmental land management scheme) scheme. The findings revealed that the Wensum Farmers group advisor was stated as the preferred, most trusted information source by the vast majority of participants and well placed to provide the requirement information about the future ELM scheme. Participants also felt information regarding the future ELM scheme was sparce and confusing, however the group advisor was seen as invaluable in delivering and interpreting advice.  This highlights the value of collaborative farmer groups! 

The next stage of the Test and Trial is for the farmers to self-assess the pond restorations from last year where we explored setting new payment rates - we will keep you up to date on pond progress. 

Article by Emilie Vrain, Social Scientist to the Wensum Farmers Group 

Across the golden rolls of Norfolk countryside, the Wensum Farmers harvest is well under way and the earliest on record for many. This is also a very exciting time to look back on our pond restorations from previous years to hunt for rare aquatic plants. 

Colin Palmer and his family have farmed in this part of Norfolk since 1957 and powerfully demonstrates how his perspective on the value of ponds has changed:

‘Previously I viewed our ponds as a nuisance and a pain to farm around but now, through joining the Wensum Farmers Group I have a new appreciation for their rarity and importance, and I like seeing what new plants we can find and what their different names are’. 

You see our group isn’t just about epic, landscape scale results on the ground – its about the people.

The farmers have a holistic bond to the land and the way they feel about their habitat assets such as hedges, ponds, trees and margins is vital. Collaboration drives interest but also creates the perfect platform to drive motivation and enthusiasm between members –  they all want the best pond and the rarest species! This empowerment drives more ambition; the need and desire to do more and be even better. And that is what creates the long-lasting, impressive, real results on the ground. 

The Wensum catchment has been affected by new rules on nutrient neutrality, impacting housing development. 

Natural England advised the government against further housing due to increasing water quality concerns. As a result, councils and housing developers have been approaching the group to discuss ‘offsetting’ solutions for phosphate and Nitrate. 

The group’s priority remains the health and biodiversity of the river and we have serious concerns over increasing pressures on already stretched sewage treatment works but we remain open to ideas and discussion and will keep you update with any developments. 

June is also a really exciting time of year as we line up all our ‘murk to magic’ ponds for restoration later in the year (26 on the list so far). We carefully examine the sites to make sure they are suitable for native plant species and our beloved Great Crested Newt. 

We look forward to giving you a progress update! 

Our first group of cherished Turtle Doves have returned to sunny Norfolk! 

The Wensum Farmers & our bird survey volunteers have been on 'lookout'; tracking, mapping, feeding and enjoying the joyful purring. 

We have restored over 80 farmland ponds since 2018 and the group are commited to supplmentary feeding (both wild flower plots & tasty additional seeds) right across the 10,000ha. 

With a hunting ban in Spain, we are noticing more birds returning than previous years which is very hopeful & exciting. 

Here's a beautiful picture taken by our very talented local bird survey volunteer - Steve Connor. 

We are delighted to announce that we are taking part in a two-year, jam-packed ELM (Environmental land Management scheme) Landscape recovery Test & Trial.

We are flying the ‘collaboration’ flag and seek to delve into how working together, as a group of 29 farmers, can further enhance our habitat mosaic across the cherished River Wensum Valley. We’ve already got experience with Test & Trials after taking part in the RSPB reverse auction but this time we will be exploring:

• payment rates, methods, and the role of farmer self-assessment

• farmer incentivisation and supporting commons & tenants 

• advice & guidance 

• private sector funding 

We look forward to sharing our progress as we go along.

England woke up to the sound of our lovely River Wensum when we were the lead story in the early morning Farming Today on BBC Radio 4.

Talking with Anna Hill from the Farming Today programme, we stress the importance of challenging water quality pollution data assumptions and explain how our catchment and farm water testing data has changed everything.

We work hard to look after the River Wensum and can prove we comply with water quality targets. Yet the government and Environment Agency suggest grassing over the catchment is the key strategy. Our evidence suggests otherwise.

Listen here to find out more.

As well as catchment wide water testing, we find testing land drains for nutrient leaching is essential. Clear data shows us that cover crops are capable of sucking up vulnerable nutrition during the Autumn/winter periods crutially preventing water course contamination. 

For our cover crop event this year, we started the day with a brainstorming cover crop compeition and then went on  to  visit three very different farms. The first a conventional busniess, who see clear benefits of cover crops but face desication challenges. 

Then only a few miles away, we visit a farm where they have not ploughed 30 years. Cover crops were regular in the rotation and plenty of land drains to test for water quality resulting in a clear story that cover crops improve water quality.

Last by not least, we visit our only Wensum Farmer who is organic. A fascinating busniess where they plan to ditch the plough and become fully reliant on cattle grazing of the cover crop for desciation. 

Three thought-provoking sites, a yummy lunch, plenty of dicsussion and lots of laugh. 

Steering us through the complexities of marketing soil carbon was Professor of Soil Science (UEA), Brian Reid. 

With increasing momentum to develop green economies and attain Net Zero futures, growth in the global carbon market is inevitable. However, Brian reminded us that not all soil carbon is equal. Nor can it be compared like for like. It became apparent that existing soil marketing approaches can be based on ‘unstable’ carbon stores which in fact are vulnerable to being lost into the atmosphere. We discussed the permanence of soil contracts, what organisations should lead the verification and risks associated with the contracts. 

Clearly there is a long way to go. Particularly in quantifying and measuring soil carbon but we left feeling inspired that farming can and should be part of the carbon sequestration solution. 

July and August were filled with surveying all our ponds which we have restored in 2020. Such an exciting time visiting the sites and witnessing the murk to magic transformation in front of your eyes. 

But now, it’s all about the next round of pond restorations and using our great contractor team to work one by one to enhance and transform these unique freshwater habitats. 

We never tire of cherishing and protecting our River Wensum but drone filming this month has given us all a new perspective on our wonderful mosaic of habitats. We’re scheming new ideas, projects, and approaches to enhance, connect and protect. Drone footage coming soon but for now here’s a pic of our drone man Joe, Farm Manager Simon and Wensum Farmers Advisor Lizzie. 

Led by acoustic pond expert Jack Greenlaugh, we were totally transfixed by listening to the beautifuly chaotic pond sounds. Each farmer, listening through headphones, was transported to a whole new world. 

Sure the pond looks species diverse, sure we can watch the farmland birds swoop and dive at insects and yes we can admire the dragonfly diversity but listening to the pond gives us a whole new meaning and understanding on pond health. 

A harmony of cracking, clicking and ticking comes from a mixture of pond species  and even some sounds derive from the plants. Now a recognised form of surveying pond health, we are delighted to be joining forces with Jack to survey all our ponds we restored in 2020. 

Farmers gain most when learning and listening to other farmers. 

David Walston at Thriplow was our first host on our trip out. His main aim is to farm profitably whilst improving soil - something we all aspire to in our group.  David is a sharp but modest farmer and answered all our challenging questions with ease. 

We couldn't drive back to Norfolk without dropping into see David White - a friendly farmer with a  reputation for pushing boundaries. Fasincating insights into companion cropping, saved seed cover crops and mindset change. 

We all left the day with big smiles, buzzing ideas and a broader perspective of conservation agriculture. 

The Wensum Farmers are walking through the un-spoilt wilderness of Brisley Common. Gorse and blackthorn spilling out of the hedges. We admire this unique habitat whilst hearing one of our treasured male Turtle Doves calling from Ash tree. 

We discuss the importance of our hedges, ponds and supplementary feeding. 

Joined by the enthusastic and inspiring award winning Suffolk farmer, Graham Denny, we talk predator control.  And to finish the session, Lizzie runs a bird ID quiz which is full of laughter and the winners get their gold medals (plus a case of wine). An all round fantastic group meeting which we hope, will lead to further successful Turtle Dove breeding. 

It's the element which binds us. 

The main river the spine of the group and the tributaries and drains reaching out into every farm. This month, Lizzie led open conversations between the farmers and the Environment Agency, Natural England, Anglian Water and the Internal Drainage Board on complex catchment issues. Some questions were answered, some led to more questions. But we could agree on one thing; we are untied in working towards improved water quality and biodiversity. 

We had a fantastic session listening  to Gloucestershire farmer Jake Freestone from Overbury estate and academic Professor Tim Benton from Yorkshire. The Wensum Farmers gained a lot from listening to Jake's practical experience on his regenerative agriculture journey. It was fascinating to hear Tim's perspective on global food supply chains and how we can adapt our farm businesses to become more resilient and sustainable.

From hedges to turtle doves, we had our first session hearing about the DEFRA ELM trial from the RSPB team. Lots of questions and we were concerned about the farmers bidding against each other in a reverse auction, but we’re excited to be taking part next year.