With autumn in full swing and root vegetables on the menu, local farmers are being invited to take part in a country stroll to learn top tips on improving the quality of the water that feeds their harvest by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency and Natural England are leading the way with an organised farm walk on Wednesday, 21 October, to highlight the importance of protecting water quality from pollutants. Farmers will also receive advice on agricultural environmental schemes.

The walk aims to help farmers understand the importance of reducing pesticide pollution run-off into local rivers by encouraging them to join either the Entry or Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Schemes (ELS) (HLS). The schemes provide funding to farmers and land managers who provide effective environmental management on their land. Becoming a member of HLS award is a competitive process and this walk should help farmers understand more about taking part.

The walk will take place at Clattercote Priory Farm, a prime example of HSL scheme in practise since 2006. The walk starts at 10am and will end at 12:30pm, with a range of stops along the way. Speakers from the Environment Agency and Natural England will also be illustrating how environmental stewardship could work on any farmer’s land. There will also be talks on protecting soil and watercourses and enhancing key arable farmland habitats.

Information will also be available on the Upper Cherwell Land Care project – an Environment Agency-funded project which aims to reduce the amount of pesticide run-off from farm land into rivers.

Environment Agency officer Jeanette Wooster, said: “This walk is a great opportunity for us to talk to local farmers about how they can help ensure that the water quality in our rivers is cleaner. We hope they will be interested in joining the stewardship scheme as it benefits both the environment and the farmers themselves.

“We are hoping that we can lead the way to ensure better, cleaner and improved water quality is at the forefront of farmers’ minds.”

Farmer Adrian Taylor from Clattercote Farm said: “Being in HLS has enabled us to improve the farm from a wildlife point of view and minimise the impact from pesticide use, particularly important in the Upper Cherwell Catchment".