Your Somerset county NFU update

Avon & Somerset Police are moving the Farm and Horse watch alerts to a new system. If you were previously registered to receive this or would like to receive the alerts, then you need to register your details. 

Defra are recruiting 13 new Secretary of State appointed members to join England’s National Park Authorities and National Landscape Conservation Boards. This includes Exmoor National Park in Somerset. This is an opportunity for NFU members to have influential governance roles at the heart of shaping the future of these landscapes. From nature recovery and climate resilience to inclusive access and rural economic development, Board members will make decisions about the actions that each National Park Authority or Conservation Board should take to deliver its statutory purposes.  

 The Boards are looking for people who can demonstrate: 

• Enthusiasm and a genuine passion for the work of National Park Authorities and Conservation Boards.
• An ability to successfully engage with, influence and inspire a wide-ranging audience as an ambassador for Protected Landscapes.  
• A demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.  
• An ability to think strategically and creatively, scrutinising complex issues to find innovative solutions. 
• An ability to support ambitions to bring new perspective and funding opportunities for Protected Landscapes.  

Time commitment: between 2–4 days per month, slightly differing for each park , details are in the links below.

Remuneration: A basic allowance is paid by each Board; details are in the links below. 

Application deadline: Midday, Tuesday 16 June 2026 

We recently held the first meeting of a new Farmer Group for the Somerset Phosphorus Project, which aims to tackle high phosphorus (P) levels affecting Somerset.

The project sits within the Somerset Catchment Partnership, hosted by FWAG SouthWest. While the partnership covers many water issues, phosphorus is a major focus due to waterbody failures and declining SSSIs. Around 80% of phosphorus in waterbodies is legacy P, making this a long term challenge.

Research by Lancaster University (Phases 1 and 2) helped define the scale and sources of the issue. The project has now moved into Phase 3, which is about delivering practical, on the ground solutions.

To ensure solutions work for real farms, a Farmer Steering Group has been set up. The first meeting took place on 23rd March, organised by Abi Webber at FWAG SW and chaired by Mark Humphry (NFU) and attended by around 15 farmers and advisers from a wide mix of dairy, arable and livestock systems across the catchment.

Discussions focused on practical options such as:

• Better use and movement of manure phosphorus (including slurry separation and exporting).
• Adding value to organic manures.
• Meaningful whole farm nutrient and P planning.
• Soil management, reducing runoff and erosion, and managing legacy soil P.

Farmers provided open and constructive feedback on what is workable, highlighting barriers such as regulatory constraints, logistical and financial difficulties and concerns over whether some phosphorus targets are realistic given Somerset’s soils and landscape.

The project is now exploring funding for farmer-led trials, aiming to develop practical, farmer informed solutions alongside wider investment, using a catchment based approach. The project will also look to have regular meetings with farmers to hear ideas and encourage discussion around the barriers and opportunities.

We are now looking to work with farmers in the catchment to identify farm solutions and trials, please do get in touch if you are interested and would want to work with us or just find out more and be part of our ongoing project Steering Group.

Contact: Abi Webber or Ellie Newman.

Somerset Council has published its Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). The LNRS sets out long term priorities for nature recovery, identifying where action is most needed and where it will have the biggest impact. It aims to help guide decisions and investment made by land managers, planners, developers, environmental organisations and communities.

What is included?

• Biodiversity Priorities
• Local Habitat Map

By targeting investment where it delivers the greatest benefits, the LNRS aims to support natural flood management, climate resilience and healthier ecosystems.

Next Steps

The Council will work with partners through delivery groups, local networks and land management clusters. Annual updates will track progress and highlight new opportunities for collaboration. Please do visit their website to look at the strategy and the habitat map which you can explore to look at your specific land or areas of interest to you. There is also some specific farmer guidance, please see below. Any issues please get in touch.