| CASE STUDY - FARMER CLUSTERS
The Farmer Cluster story
Jess Brooks looks at the success of Farmer Clusters which have grown from one farmer-led NIA in 2012 to 120 Farmer Clusters at the end of 2019 but increasing number are self-funding or pursuing lmost a decade ago, Sir John Lawton’s private funding from corporate sponsors, water Making space for nature report was published, companies or charitable trusts. At the end of 2019, highlighting the need for ‘bigger, better and there were 120+ groups across England covering more joined up’ conservation. In response, GWCT over 500,000ha and involving more than 3,000 land helped a group of farmers in the Marlborough Downs managers. The results of the fourth round of CSFF will win funding to establish a Nature Improvement Area be announced in 2020 and could (NIA) and pursue a landscape-scale approach to conservation. This was ...at the end of 2019, significantly boost those numbers. the only farmer-led NIA created, there were 120+ and since 2012 they have delivered Martin Down ‘Supercluster’ tremendous results on the ground. The Martin Down ‘Supercluster’ groups across EngGWCT was inspired to find out was established at the junction of land covering over whether this ‘bottom-up’ process of Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire in working alongside a group of farmers 2016 and comprises three Farmer 500,000ha and would work with normal everyday Clusters surrounding the Martin involving more than Down National Nature Reserve funding streams such as Countryside Stewardship. So, we set up five pilot Together, this huge trio of 3,000 land managers (NNR). ‘Farmer Clusters’ with funding from clusters cradles the nature reserve, Natural England. covering an area of 23,600 hectares Land managers quickly understood the benefits of (236km²), and the combined force of 45 farmers are joining forces to manage the countryside, showing huge united in their aim to protect and enhance the iconic enthusiasm. Soon the pilot clusters were devising their and threatened wildlife of Martin Down NNR on own conservation plans, and choosing target species, surrounding farmland. issues and habitats. The work is generally underpinned by independent but co-ordinated agri-environment Martin Down Farmer Cluster (MDFC) schemes, and groups are led by a farmer chairman and Like other farmer-led landscape-scale projects, the ‘facilitated’ by an advisor chosen by them. MDFC holds several training workshops, social events, Natural England commissioned a report on the talks and walks every year for members. Conservation success of the pilots, and as a result, introduced the action is co-ordinated as much as possible across the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund (CSFF) to landscape and the cluster has a significant focus on help farmers work together and fund advisors. A small species monitoring to track progress over the years.
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Jess Brooks, Farmland Biodiversity Officer (Top) Farmers in the clusters devise their own conservation plans, choosing target species, issues and habitats.
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10 | GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2019
www.gwct.org.uk
