Your Hampshire & Isle of Wight county NFU update

Southern Water has applied for a drought order on the River Test following prolonged dry weather and exceptionally low river flows.

The order would temporarily allow the company to continue abstracting water for public supply at lower river levels than normally permitted, helping maintain supplies across parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 

For agriculture, the move highlights increasing pressure on water resources during drought conditions and raises concerns about the wider impacts of reduced river flows on irrigation, livestock and aquaculture water supplies and the health of the chalk stream environment.

This situation highlights the increasing need for investment in water storage, water supply infrastructure and greater drought resilience, issues that the NFU continues to lobby Government and water companies on, to ensure farming businesses can remain productive and resilient in the face of more frequent extreme weather events.

3 September: Greg Stafford MP, Farnham and Bordon meeting. Open to members with a particular interest in the lack of abattoir provision in our region. Please contact me if you would like to attend.  

5 September: Alresford show. Deputy President, Paul Tompkins will update members at the member breakfast at 8am, breakfast rolls from 730am. 

9 September: Back British Farming Day 

12 September: Romsey Show

19 September: IOW Ploughing Match 

18 November: North Hampshire branch AGM at Test Valley Golf club. 6pm start. 

24 November: Isle of Wight, county annual open meeting, 6pm at Harvey Browns Paul Tompkins, NFU Deputy President will address members. 

2 December: Hampshire county annual open meeting at South Winchester golf club, 6pm. Tom Bradshaw, NFU President, will address members. 

South East water have just launched a livestock register so businesses can get some degree of priority treatment if they are cut off or impacted by lower pressure given current drought conditions.  

If you are livestock keeper and are serviced by South East Water please do register.

Southern Water has announced a temporary use ban (hosepipe ban) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, in response to critical river levels in the River Test.

For full details, please visit the Southern Water website: Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) - Southern Water

The Hampshire Forest Partnership is starting to plan for the Winter 2026/27 tree planting season and are inviting Expressions of Interest for tree planting projects we may be able to support by providing FREE trees, hedgerow whips, orchard trees, and disease-resistant elms. 

To help the Hampshire Forest partnership  plan effectively, we encourage all interested parties to complete the Expression of Interest form, those who register will be among the first to be contacted once funding is secured and tree availability is confirmed. Last winter, the partnership supported a wide range of Hampshire parish councils, community groups, farmers, and landowners. 

If you are considering a tree planting project or similar express your interest with the Hampshire Forest Partnership.

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

Waste exemptions have changed recently.  The Environment Agency (EA) can now ask for these documents on waste exemptions on EA inspections.  This came into force on April 1st 2026. 

This reform is part of a broader consultation the EA (Environment Agency) conducted on charge proposals, which also addresses fees related to waste crime and updated hourly rates.

The aim is to improve regulatory oversight, ensure environmental protection, and make the system more cost-effective for the EA.

The reforms introduce charges for waste exemptions, impacting a wide range of operators, including farmers. As part of this process, the NFU reviewed the proposals and gathered feedback from members to inform its response.

Charges will be paid at the point of registration or renewal.

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has been developing a proposal for a wild beaver release on the Isle of Wight since 2021. The proposed release area focuses on the Eastern Yar and Wroxall Stream catchments, where conservation organisations collectively manage over 600 hectares of wetlands. The Trust has been engaging with riparian landowners, farmers, and local stakeholders over the last three years through workshops, site visits and a steering group. Following the legalisation of wild beaver releases in March 2025, the project has now been invited by Natural England to submit a full licence application for a proposed 10‑year programme. 

In Hampshire, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission established the first Hampshire Beaver Advisory Group in 2024 in response to beavers naturally dispersing along the Hampshire Avon and nearby tributaries. The group brings together key stakeholders and statutory bodies to share information, coordinate local understanding and consider county specific issues, particularly relating to sensitive habitats such as chalk streams and the New Forest. The Advisory Group does not manage beaver releases or provide operational support, however, it acts as an important coordination forum. As beavers continue to expand naturally, the group is expected to support the development of local Beaver Management Groups and help build capacity within catchment partnerships. This work will align with the forthcoming National Beaver Strategy, which is currently being co‑designed by Natural England, the Environment Agency, Defra and national stakeholders.