Pollution cut through farmers' drainage materials investment

19/08/2010 16:54:49

 

Collaboration between farmers and the Environment Agency has seen new drainage materials fitted, reducing pollution in rivers as a result, the government body reports.

Drainage materials are a common feature of the Capital Grant Scheme, in which 50 per cent of the purchase of resources to upgrade farming premises is covered by subsidies.

Since the initiation of the scheme, the majority of all funds allocated has gone to the south-west as farmers in the region continue to apply to raise their ecological performance.

Charlotte Woodford, catchment sensitive farming officer, says: 'It not only offers valuable help to farmers seeking to improve their environmental credentials, but also has proven benefits to reduce pollution.'

In the past year, more materials have been funded thanks to a 50 per cent increase in the budget for the scheme, taking it to £7.5 million.

The project is operated under the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative, with a network of officers working in 50 priority areas to help tackle water pollution.

Posted by Kim Bardsley

 

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