Your Devon county NFU update

Lucy Jermyn

Lucy Jermyn

NFU Assistant County Adviser (Devon)

Less than a week to go until Devon County Show!

Your Devon NFU team are eagerly preparing to meet with members on the NFU stand at Devon County Show next week.

Find us from Thursday 21 - Saturday 23 May, Avenue D Stand 62

Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DJ

We welcome to visit us on our stand overlooking the cattle rings for a chat with our team of advisers over a complimentary tea, coffee and cake.

Throughout the show we will have various advisers available on the NFU stand: 

• NFU Advisers – for any policy queries 

• Group Secretaries – for any insurance queries and local NFU membership support

• NFU Legal Panel firm Birketts (10am - 1pm Thursday, 10am - 2pm Friday) 

• Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Crime Team (9:30am – 10:30am Thursday and Friday) 

• Acorus Planning (10am – 12pm Thursday and Friday)

NFU Devon Farmer & Grower members could claim a free ticket to gain entry to the show (1 per membership). Applications closed on 11th May and if you applied, you should have received your ticket via email. If you have not received your ticket, please do let us know.

What is happening on the NFU stand?

In addition to the above, we are also running two fantastic events on stand for which we would be delighted to welcome members.

Thursday 21 MAY - President's Reception with Tom Bradshaw

NFU Devon County Chair, David Chugg, invites you to join us for a President's reception with Tom Bradshaw on Thursday 21 May at 2:30pm. Tom will give an insight into all the work that the NFU is doing on behalf of members followed by a Q&A session. Local strawberries and cream with sparkling wine are kindly sponsored by Birketts LLP.

Friday 22 MAY – NFU Sheep Vision Launch

Join NFU National Livestock Board chair David Barton, NFU Chief Adviser John Royle and NFU Livestock Adviser Phoebe Traquair on Friday 22 May for the launch of the NFU’s Sheep Vision at 12:30pm.  The NFU National Livestock Board has laid out its policy priorities and asks for the sector, covering animal health and welfare, policy frameworks, supply chain dynamics, trade, and sustainability, climate, and environment. These policies will give sheep farmers the confidence and ability to reinvest in their businesses, maintain breeding capacity, and continue to protect and enhance our iconic rural landscapes.

Other news and dates for your diary:

Plans are also well underway for summer events, with the team working hard to prepare informative and engaging opportunities to welcome members across the county in late spring and early summer.

Save the date for:

  • Tuesday 14th July: Health & Safety Workshop 10am-1pm, Westpoint Arena EX5 1DJ  (details to come)

Your group secretaries and branch chairs are also hosting several fantastic events across the spring and summer. Details and registration information for these can be found in your local branch newsletters, contact your local group office for more information. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us, your local branch, or CallFirst on 0370 845 8458 if you need any help, guidance or support.  

 

Local news

Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy is published

In May, Devon County Council published a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), a spatial strategy which plans, maps, and create priorities for nature across Devon. The principal aim of the LNRS is to target space for the delivery of BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain), or habitat creation through other public and private funding. 

If an area has been identified for nature in a LNRS, it could affect how BNG units are calculated in the Biodiversity Metric. This will impact those thinking of creating BNG units for the market but also those planning a development which could be impacted by BNG.

The LNRS will also help contribute to delivering national environmental targets on water and air quality, biodiversity, and trees, as confirmed in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan.

Now published, the responsible authority will facilitate the delivery of the LNRS through four main functions:

  • leading the delivery partnership
  • embedding into local decision making
  • facilitating projects that contribute to delivery,
  • tracking, and reporting to Defra.

You can see the strategy at https://www.naturerecoverydevon.org.uk or read more about Local Nature Recovery Strategies here

Local news

New briefing to help farmers become beaver ready

We’d like to share a new briefing from The Wildlife Trusts that members may find useful, particularly those farming alongside beavers.

The document focuses on how farmers can prepare for beaver presence, with practical guidance and considerations to support planning and decision making.

If this is relevant, you can access the briefing below

Click Here For Briefing

Local news

Natural England introduces new online submission process for SSSI requests

From 20th April 2026, the new form will be the primary route for submitting requests for advice and consent relating to protected sites. This will replace the current system of email and manual submission to Natural England. 

The new online form will provide a way to:

  • apply for SSSI consent
  • request advice about proposed land management activities
  • check whether consent may be required before carrying out works
  • apply for permissions required under Agri-environment scheme agreements where activities may affect SSSIs

You can find the new Defra form here: Before you start - Give notice and get consent for a planned activity on a SSSI - GOV.UK

You can find further information on this change here and additional guidance on Sites of Special Scientific Interest here.