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Warwickshire Rural Hub

News Archive

New app to help you manage your hedgerows

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species has launched the Healthy Hedgerows app, a rapid hedgerow health checking survey. With just a handful of questions, this hedgerow health-checker will place each hedge you survey in the lifecycle and give you instant management options. It has been designed for farmers and landowners that want to understand their whole hedge network and create a hedge management plan at the farm scale.  By answering just a handful of simple questions, it can help you understand where each hedge is in its natural lifecycle, and work out how best to manage it.   Visit this page to read more and download the app.

Read how to help pollinators on your farm

The European Innovation Partnership (Wales) has written a handy guide showing farmers how they can help pollinators to thrive on their land.  The booklet contains 6 case studies.  To read the booklet click here.

Read comparison of 5 different methods of rejuvenating hedges

Many hedges in the UK are not in good condition, partly due to over-frequent trimming with mechanised flails.  The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology compared 5 different methods of rejuvenating hedges which can be viewed on this page.  The findings showed that:

  • Traditional hedgerow rejuvenation methods i.e. hedge-laying and coppicing, reduce gaps and stimulates growth from the base. Denser hedges are better for perennial plants, small mammals, farmland birds and some invertebrates.
  • Traditional Midland style hedge-laying was the most expensive and time consuming method tested, but it improved the hedge condition, increasing the density and reducing gap sizes.
  • The conservation hedging technique yielded a hedge structure and rates of woody re-growth as good as traditional hedge-laying in improving hedge condition.
  • The wildlife hedging technique resulted in a greater density of woody material than traditional hedge-laying three years after rejuvenation, with smaller gaps in the hedge base. The average hedge width was more than twice that of the traditional and conservation laid hedges.
  • Re-shaping with a circular saw resulted in vigorous growth in the hedgerow canopy, but did not reduce gaps at the base or stimulate basal woody growth.
  • Coppicing resulted in vigorous growth of woody stems and a dense woody structure at the base of the hedge but very few berries were produced even four years after coppicing.

Guidance on three silvopasture planting designs

Silvopasture is a form of agroforestry where trees are deliberately planted to be part of a farm’s livestock system. Innovative Farmers has shared guidance on three tree planting designs which are being trialled as part of a field lab investigating the benefits of agroforestry.  Visit this page for information on the three designs which were chosen to suit the grazing requirements of the farmers in the trial, as well as fitting into the natural environment surrounding the chosen fields.

Farm Crap App

A new manure management app “the Farm Crap App” is designed to help farmers and growers value the nutrients found in organic manures.
What is it?
The app, developed by the SWARM Knowledge Hub in collaboration with Rothamsted Research North Wyke allows the farming community to appreciate the nutritive and economic value of livestock manures.
Farmers are able to visually assess manures and slurry application rates and calculate what is being provided in terms of available nutrients as well as giving an estimate of potential savings in artificial fertilisers.
The data is based on Defra’s RB209 Fertiliser Manual values for crop available nutrients along with the industry produced publication Think Manures and allows you to select different seasons, types of manures and crops growing to see what the manure will provide in terms of fertiliser value.
The calculator determines the amount of crop available nutrients that are found within manures spread at different rates. This helps with decisions on how much to spread in order to meet the crop requirements.
How do I access it?
The app is available on Apple and Android devices, through the Google Play or iTunes stores. For more information please visit this link.

Report a rural crime anonymously

The NFU has partnered with the charity Crimestoppers to launch the Rural Crime Reporting Line, a service through which you can anonymously give information about four rural crimes.  You can either call the dedicated Rural Crime Reporting Line on 0800 783 0137 or visit www.ruralcrimereportingline.uk to give information about one of these four crimes:

  • Large-scale, industrial fly-tipping
  • Hare coursing
  • Livestock theft
  • Machinery theft

Are you a rural business working in an off mains area of Warwickshire?

Then the Warwickshire Rural Community Council Energy Scheme may be for you. It is open to individuals and rural organisations alike.
The scheme aims to create collective purchasing power and keep prices at an affordable level for users.  Membership is open to all in Warwickshire – whether you’re an individual householder, a community group or a business – and it’s free to join.
To find out more visit their website.

Website: Open Website

Information on the TB Advisory Service

The TB Advisory Service has been set up to enable cattle keepers to access specialist advice on building resilience to bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The service is fully-funded by Defra through the Rural Development Programme for England, and is available to farmers in the High Risk and Edge areas of England (Warwickshire is in the Edge area).   Eligible farmers will receive bespoke advice on biosecurity and the risks associated with cattle movements and trading.

If any eligible farmers would like to register for the service please visit their website to register some details including your CPH and SBI numbers.

Contact: Holly Shearman
Telephone: 01306 779 410
Email Address: info@tbas.org.uk
Website: Open Website

Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit looking for farmers

The Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit aims to quantify which management practices work best to improve carbon storage in soil.  The project, which has been kindly funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, will allow for much needed data to be collected on soil carbon sequestration whilst at the same time enabling farmers to play a positive role in the development of effective climate change mitigation mechanisms.   For further information please contact Becky Wilson.

Contact: Becky Wilson
Telephone: 01579 372376

Get advice on pesticide safety

April is the beginning of the sowing and spraying season and these activities present their own safety risks. If you are using pesticides check the Health and Safety Executive’s code of practice for advice on how to take precautions when storing, handling, using, keeping records and disposing of pesticides and pesticide waste at www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides

Sign up to FAS services

To register for FREE text message updates from FAS, please call 0345 345 1302 or email bookings@farmingadviceservice.org.uk with ‘Register for text updates’ in the subject line. Remember to include your name and mobile phone number in the message. Your details will not be shared with any third parties.
FAS is on Twitter. Follow us on @DefraFAS for up-to-the-minute updates on publications, events and industry information.
To receive further copies of the FREE bi-monthly FAS newsletter, please call 0345 345 1302 or email bookings@farmingadviceservice.org.uk with ‘Register for newsletter’ in the subject line.

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The Warwickshire Rural Hub CIC
Archway Cottage, 2 Church Street, Marton, Rugby CV23 9RL

Email: info@ruralhub.org.uk
Tel: 07780 159291

Company Registration No: 7026157
Registered office: 23 West Bar Street, Banbury, OX16 9SA

 

Rural Hub

Co-ordinator

Jane Hampson
E: info@ruralhub.org.uk

Tel: 07780 159291

 

Warwickshire Rural Hub CIC Directors

Karen Ellis (Chair)
Amy Brant
Rosemary Collier
Emlyn Evans
Ian Jelley
Henry Lucas
Marion Perrett Pearson
Alexandra Robinson

 

Environmental Steering Group Members

Zoe Bell (Chair)
Tony Beysens
Meehal Grint, Kings Seeds
Tom Newbery, Highfield Farm
Louis Phipps, Bragborough Estate
Zoe Burrows, Rookery Farm

 

 

Disclaimer

The Warwickshire Rural Hub accepts no liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from any action taken in reliance on the information contained on this website.

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