Upcoming events
Balancing profitable farming with conservation
28 February 2018
18:30 - 21.00
CFE event
Maplebeck Village Hall, Main Street, Maplebeck, NG22 0BS
An evening talk with CFE and Marek Nowakowski, Wildlife Farming Company.
Marek’s career has included working for the Weed Research Organisation, game keeping and agronomy before co-founding the Wildlife Farming Company. Marek’s job involves researching into farmland wildlife habitat creation, drawing on scientific findings to influence policy. Marek’s passion for combining practical profitable farming with conservation is well recognised and this promises to be an interesting meeting on a topic of increasing importance.
A FREE pie and peas supper will follow the talk.
Booking is essential. To book, contact Lesley Sharpe on 07707 220121 or Lesley.Sharpe@live.co.uk or book online here.
Making the most of EFAs in 2018 - Lancashire
13 March 2018
10:30 - 14:00
CFE event
Ship Inn, Haskayne, Lancs, L39 7JP
Free event, in partnership with Kings.
The ban on crop protection products on EFA is now in force. Now is the time to review your options and consider are you making the best use of EFA and ensuring compliance with greening.
- Get an update on the new EFA rules
- Discuss how you can make the best use of EFA options to enhance soils and wildlife habitats
- Get the latest thinking from Kings on cover cropping
BASIS points applied for. Free lunch provided.
To book your free place, please go to http://web.nfuonline.com/cfeevents, contact Fraser Hugill on 07502 425266, fjhugill@yahoo.co.uk or give your details to your local Frontier trader who will book you in.
The Business Benefits of Biodiversity - Kent
22 Mar 2018
09:30 - 14:00
CFE event
Juddwood Farm, Bidborough, Tonbridge TN11 8AB
Free event demonstrating the benefits to wildlife of coppice management of hedges and trees, and their value in providing timber for fuel and fencing
Includes a machinery demonstration by Nick Dinsdale of NCD Equipment of coppicing with tree shears.
Contributors include:
- Matthew Woodcock, Forestry Commission - woodland management, markets and grants
- James Woodward, Natural England - the water and biodiversity hedge project, and CS boundaries grants
- Caroline Lingham, West Kent LEADER – LEADER grants for farmers and foresters
- Paul Cobb, Campaign for the Farmed Environment – Farming, CFE and the Future
- Nick Dinsdale, NCD Equipment - the use and benefits of the tree shears
Lunch will be provided, BASIS points applied for.
Booking essential. Please book online here or leave a message on the CFE booking line 024 76858897.
Understanding EFAs in 2018 - Cambridgeshire
27 March 2018
10:00 - 13:00
CFE event
Papley Grove Farm, St Ives Road, Eltisley, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 6TW
This free event and farm walk will look at ‘The Business Benefits of Biodiversity’, with a focus on understanding changes to Greening and Ecological Focus Areas in 2018.
Richard Wordsworth, NFU BPS Adviser, will deliver a presentation and answer questions.
Other topics will include what biodiversity can do for your business, managing hedgerows and water quality. Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer will also be attending.
BASIS and NRoSO points applied for.
Bring outdoor clothing and footwear.
Booking essential. Book online or contact the East Anglia team on 01223 841507 or email EastAnglia@cfeonline.org.uk. Please state which event you'd like to attend.
Pollinator Survey Techniques Part I
3 May 2018
10:00 - 13:00
Old Chalk, New Downs event
Trosley Country Park, Vigo Village, Gravesend.
Project partner Buglife will deliver training on pollinating insects and their identification, over 2 sessions. Part classroom-based, part practical.
Booking essential. Please contact Hilary.Hunter@kent.gov.uk
Methods and machines for managing hedgerows - Essex
13 March 2018
10:00 - 13:00
CFE event
H P Cooper Farms Ltd, Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3BL
This free event and farm walk, by kind permission of H P Cooper Farms Ltd, will look at different methods and the benefits of managing hedges, and will include a demonstration of hedge coppicing machinery.
Other topics will include understanding changes to Greening and Ecological Focus Areas in 2018, what biodiversity can do for your business, and water quality. A Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer will also be attending to provide an update on the grant funding available.
BASIS and NRoSO points applied for. Bring outdoor clothing and footwear.
Booking essential. To book your place, please contact the East Anglia team on 01223 841507 or email EastAnglia@cfeonline.org.uk. Please state the event that you would like to attend.
Or book online at www.nfuonline.com/CFEevents
Making more of your hedges
21 March 2018
10:15 - 15:00
CFE event
Worcestershire Young Farmers’ Club, Shires Farm, Hawford, Worcester, WR3 7SG
Farmers and landowners are crucial to the health of hedgerows. Correct hedgerow management increases biodiversity and can benefit the farm business by providing access to income streams.
There will also be a farm walk at the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite Farm, Smite Ln, Hindlip, Worcester WR3 8SZ.
Hedge coppicing machinery will be on site (courtesy of RMS Services Worcester).
Speakers will include Nigel Baskerville (CFE), Rob Wolton (Hedgelink), Emma Bird (Woodland Trust), Caroline Corsie (Wildlife Trust), Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer James Griffiths (Natural England).
To book your place, book here or leave a message on the CFE booking line on 02476 858 897.
Managing Soils and Watercourse Protection
22 March 2018
10:30 - 13:30
CFE event
Weston Lodge Farm, Valley Road, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8JY by kind permission of David Down & Partners
A practical workshop to look at mechanical and cultural options to improve your soils and reduce run-off
This workshop will cover:
- Identifying and the remediation of compaction, improving soil biology and nutrient cycling, improving soil resilience to extremes of weather
- Cross Compliance for soils and water
- Overview of the new 2018 ‘Farming Rules for Water'
- Grant funding and CSF support
Speakers to include:
- Jo Oborn - FWAG SW Regional Soils Specialist
- Mark Smith – CFE
- Lucy James – CSF Officer
- Bernie D’Arcy – Avon Wildlife Trust
Booking is essential. To book a place please call 01823 660684 or email info@fwagsw.org.uk. Alternatively, you can book online here.
Understanding EFAs for 2018 - Suffolk
28 Mar 2018
10:00 - 13:00
CFE event
Lodge Farm, Westhorpe, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 4TA
This free event and farm walk will look at 'The Business Benefits of Biodiversity,' with a focus on understanding changes to Greening and Ecological Focus Areas in 2018.
Richard Wordsworth, NFU BPS Adviser, will deliver a presentation and answer questions.
Other topics will include what biodiversity can do for your business, managing hedgerows and water quality. Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer will also be attending.
BASIS and NRoSO points applied for.
Bring outdoor clothing and footwear.
Booking essential. Book your place online or contact the East Anglia team on 01223 841507 or EastAnglia@cfeonline.org.uk. Please state the event that you would like to attend.
Pollinator Survey Techniques Part II
23 May
10:00 - 13:00
Old Chalk, New Downs event
Trosley Country Park, Vigo Village, Gravesend.
Project partner Buglife will deliver training on pollinating insects and their identification, over 2 sessions. Part classroom-based, part practical.
Booking essential. Please contact Hilary.Hunter@kent.gov.uk
What Biodiversity can do for your Business - Norfolk
13 Mar 2018
09:30 - 13:00
CFE event
W S Seaman Farm, Scarrow Beck Farm, Erpingham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR11 7QU
This free event will look at the many ways that supporting farm wildlife can be integrated into a productive business, and the numerous benefits of doing so.
Topics discussed will include river restoration, water quality, grassland management and arable options in stewardship. Changes to greening and Ecological Focus Areas in 2018, and water quality will also be covered. A Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer will also be attending to provide an update on the grant funding available.
BASIS points applied for.
Booking essential. To book your place, please contact the East Anglia team on 01223 841507 or email EastAnglia@cfeonline.org.uk. Please state the event that you would like to attend.
Or book online at www.nfuonline.com/CFEevents
Opportunities for farmers, owls & those little brown jobs
21 March 2018
19:00 - 21:30
CFE event
Castle Hotel, 7 Front St, Bamburgh, Northumberland, NE69 7BW
This evening update will give you an overview of what is happening in the AONB and opportunities for your business through the various schemes to support farmland birds and other wildlife.
Agenda includes:
- An update on changes to EFA rules and the opportunities to enhance soils and habitats on your farm.
- A review of the Stewardship options, including scheme changes how they can fit with your business and how you can help meet the needs of Northumberland's birds.
- A look forward to the principles of joint working between farmers to achieve public goods and enhance “natural capital” terms we are hearing more and more about.
Staff from CFE, AONB, RSPB and CSF on hand to provide advice and information.
Free supper included. BASIS points applied for.
Book online or contact Fraser Hugill on 07502 425266, fjhugill@yahoo.co.uk
Make hedge management work for you & the environment
27 March 2018
09:30 - 14:00
CFE event
Organic Research Centre (ORC) at Elm Farm Research Centre, Hamstead Marshall, RG20 0HR
Join CFE and others at this free event to look at ways to boost the value of your hedges, both for your business and the environment, and learn from ORC’s experience and research on hedge coppicing for wood fuel.
There will also be opportunity to hear about the support available through the Woodland Trust and Catchment Sensitive Farming.
This event will be highly relevant to both organic and non-organic farmers.
Lunch provided.
Project information & videos of coppicing will be available during lunch
BASIS points applied for.
Booking essential. Book your free place online, or contact Torz Brown torz.brown@panbio.co.uk or 07786 705114.
Making the most of EFAs in 2018 - S Yorks
27 March 2018
10:30 - 14:30
CFE event
Rockingham Arms, Wentworth, South Yorks, S62 7TL
The ban on crop protection products on EFA is now in force. Now is the time to review your options, to consider if you are making the best use of EFA and ensure you are compliant with greening and the changes in 2018.
This meeting at the Rockingham Arms, Wentworth will be followed by lunch and a farm walk at Royds Farm by kind permission of Richard Lodge.
At this meeting in partnership with Kings, you will:
- Get an update on the new EFA rules
- Discuss how you can make the best use of EFA options to enhance soils and wildlife habitats
- Get the latest thinking from Kings on cover cropping
Book online, contact Fraser Hugill on 07502 425266, fjhugill@yahoo.co.uk or give your details to your local Frontier trader who will book you in.
The Importance of Pollinators
25 July
10:00 - 15:00
Old Chalk New Downs event
Trosley Country Park, Vigo Village, Gravesend
Project partner Buglife presents a fascinating insight into the world of pollinating insects. Aimed at landowners and managers, this course will help you help these endangered yet essential creatures.
Booking essential. Please contact Hilary.Hunter@kent.gov.uk