The regional office has secured funding for a water resources study tour and a small number of places are available for site visits to see water recycling and harvesting in action.
NFU regional environmental policy adviser Helen Cork will lead the visits on 15 and 16 February and the trips will be to Freshfield Fruit LLP, in Herefordshire, and David Austin Roses, in Shropshire.
She said: “Each day will explore on-farm water harvesting and recycling, cost, benefit, infrastructure improvements and planning permissions.
“Those who sign up for the trip will see water harvesting and recycling in practice and hear about the experiences learned from those using it.”
Freshfield produces strawberries for major retailers on two sites, one of which is a new table-top site at Nunnington.
The site was designed and installed by Agri Management Solutions Ltd, AMS Ltd, who also supplied the parts, equipment and infrastructure for the irrigation/ rainwater harvesting system as well as project managing the build.
David Austin Roses has seen rapid expansion through sales growth in the UK and in mainland Europe in the past decade and has set in place a five year plan to expand further.
Around 75 per cent of the business’ production is sold in six litre pots grown on irrigated beds. Drains have been installed to all irrigation beds and rainwater drains intercepted, storing water into a number of silos and a new 5000m³ collection sump.
This water is then pumped to the newly expanded reservoir.
This system guarantees water sufficiency in line with their expansion plans and has safeguarded the employment of over 150 people at the Albrighton site.
On the visit farmers and growers will hear presentations from those running and managing the sites, the Environment Agency and others.
Lunch is provided and the funding has been calculated to cover a percentage of the total costs for 12 members on each day.
Members will have to pay £12 to secure a place and for further details please contact the regional office on 01952 400500 or email helen.cork@nfu.org.uk
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