Your Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire county NFU update

Nathan Boyd

NFU County Adviser (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire)

As I write in mid-August, harvest is done and dusted with many taking the time to consolidate what has been a hard summer with fires, heat and lower than expected yields.

The announcement by the government around drought support and on farm reservoirs is welcome, but locally we will continue to put the case to all MPs that farming needs the right support to produce food for the nation.

Bucks Show programme

And almost seamlessly this takes us to our upcoming Bucks County Show programme. We are lucky enough to be welcoming NFU President to the stand for the day on Thursday 27 August, alongside Greg Smith MP, Emma Reynolds MP, Sarah Green MP and EFRA Chair Alastair Carmichael MP.

During the day we will be running drop-in sessions and roundtables. If you’re interested in catching up with a specific MP then do drop me a message.

September events

September will also keep your local team busy with shows and events as we have local ploughing matches coming up including FFFB, Newbury and District, Henley and District and REBBA where you can find myself or some of your local NFU Mutual team.

The last major show of the year is Newbury on the 19 and 20 September at Newbury Showground. As in previous years our stand is in partnership with NFU Wiltshire and group offices across both NFU counties and local agriculture dealers.

Full details will be published in the next few weeks but keep a close eye out for invites to the NFU live lessons being held on both days!

Fire safety advice

Away from shows, we have been supporting members and emergency services as fires have hit farms across the county. Both Thames Valley fire services and Thames Valley Police continue to distribute the farm fire handbook jointly developed with the NFU, and if you haven’t yet seen a copy download the online version or call your local group office.

As a result of the hot summer, we are hosting a farm fire awareness event on Wednesday 28 October with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue as the lead authority, kindly hosted by Newbury Showground.

Invites will go out to all members across BBO and all farmers in Berkshire. More details to follow, but if you can attend, or share with your neighbours then please do.

Event

Met Office Wildfire Training Course

Join the Met Office for this online wildfire training course run in association with the Forestry Commission and Imperial College. It will cover the science and meteorology behind wildfire, the tools/services currently used to assess/communicate the threat and a forward look to how climate change might impact the wildfire risk.

The number and severity of wildfires is increasing around the world but also here in the UK, as we saw in the hot, dry summer of 2022.

This 2.5 hour course aims to raise the awareness of wildfires, how they develop, how the fire spreads and how meteorological factors play a part.

Start date

27 August 2026 at 11:00am

End date

27 August 2026 at 1:30pm

Local news

Oxfordshire Nature Recovery Fund

The Oxfordshire Nature Recovery Fund (ONReF) is a new loan fund designed to help farmers, landowners and community enterprises access upfront finance for nature recovery projects that have the potential to generate future income through nature markets.

Projects could include habitat creation and restoration, woodland planting, wetland creation, river improvements, natural flood management, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) delivery and carbon projects.

Unlike most environmental funding schemes, ONReF provides loans rather than grants, with funding of up to £150,000 available on flexible, below market terms. Projects must deliver measurable environmental benefits, demonstrate a potential income stream to repay the loan and show that alternative finance is not readily available.

The fund is currently seeking expressions of interest ahead of lending opening.

Email [email protected] to find out more

Find Out More

Local news

Have your say on eel conservation in the Thames catchment

Thames Rivers Trust is inviting farmers and land managers to complete a short survey on priorities for restoring European eel populations. Your input will help shape future conservation work across the Thames and its tributaries. The survey takes around five minutes and is open until 31st October.

Survey Link

Local news

Bucks Council Tree Mission Pilot

Bucks Council is offering tree packs to land owners for planting this winter, more details below:

We're encouraging landowners and community groups to support tree planting as part of the Bucks Tree Mission: a shared mission to plant trees for a greener future.

As well as continuing to plant on our own land, we are keen to support landowners interested in planting on their own land. This winter we are offering free tree packs to landowners as part of our continued commitment to improve our environment, help mitigate and adapt to climate change, boost biodiversity and improve our green spaces for communities.

This is a pilot programme to support landowners across the county as part of the Bucks Tree Mission target to plant 543,000 trees across Buckinghamshire.

Enhanced grant funding with Woodland Trust:

Bucks Tree Mission is offering to uplift funding agreements issued through Woodland Trust MOREwoods to encourage more tree planting in our county.

MOREwoods (and MOREhedges) currently offers landowners with land available over 0.5ha up to 75% capital establishment costs on self-planted schemes, with the landowner contributing the remaining 25%. Buckinghamshire Council will enhance this offer, such that the landowner contribution will be reduced to 10%, with the council covering the remaining 15%.

The landowner will still need to arrange and cover the costs for planting. Read the full details of Woodland Trust funding and eligibility. To take advantage of this offer, prospective applicants should still apply using the Woodland Trust online application process, listing Buckinghamshire Council as ‘applicant’ and themselves as ‘landowner’.

Interested landowners can also contact the Bucks Tree Mission directly to discuss proposals and application process further [email protected]

Apply HERE

Local news

Thames Water Funding for farmers and landowners

Up to £15,000 for each farm for actions which reduce herbicide leaching into water sources, including new farm infrastructure and changing crop and land management.
The handbook for more information can be seen below
Please contact Lauren or Navjot at Promar for more details:

Lauren Busby, Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07866 820731
Navjot Gill, Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07813 636888

Herbicide Handbook

Local news

Cotswolds Rivers Trust: Free Site Visits for Landowners

The NFU would like to highlight support available to members from the Cotswolds Rivers Trust, an independent environmental charity working to restore and protect the water environment.

The Trust is offering free site visits to landowners to discuss water related projects and opportunities. This includes expert advice on river channel improvements, pond and wetland creation and natural flood management measures, delivered in collaboration with partner organisations.

Working across the Upper Thames, Windrush, Evenlode and Cherwell catchments, the Trust can also support landowners to access capital funding and provide guidance on Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.