This event is provided by Somerset Council and supported by NFU, CLA and FWAG SW. It is an opportunity for the farming community to view the draft mapping and accompanying document - the 'Statement of Biodiversity Priorities'- for the Somerset Local Nature Recovery Strategy. 

During the event there will be presentations that guide you through the mapping and share the latest information about grants and other funding to increase productivity, manage your land to benefit the environment and support your agricultural business. The event is your chance to look at and discuss the mapping and accompanying document for your area, which together will make up the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and to provide feedback prior to the strategy going out for public consultation.

This event is fully funded. To book, please use the links below.
 

Quantock Hall, Junction 24, Bridgwater, TA6 6DF
Thursday 13^th February
13:00 – 16:30
https://buytickets.at/fwagsw/1523240

Porlock Village Hall, Toll Road, TA24 8QD
Monday 24^th February
13:00 – 16:30
https://buytickets.at/fwagsw/1523206

Red Brick Building, Morland Road, Glastonbury, BA6 9FT
Wednesday 26^th February
13:00 – 16:30
https://buytickets.at/fwagsw/1523255

Tuesday 21st January, Exford Village Hall, 6-8pm

Exmoor National Park Authority would like to invite you to a White-tailed Eagle information event from 6-8pm on Tuesday 21st January at Exford Village Hall. This is an opportunity to meet Zoe Smith and Tim Mackrill from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation who will be giving a presentation about the project proposal and a chance for questions and informal discussions with project staff.

As part of its wider work around nature recovery, Exmoor National Park Authority is working to support the White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme in southern England, which is led by Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England. Following the release of 37 birds on the Isle of Wight over the last 5 years, 7 White-tailed Eagles have been spending time on Exmoor showing that it offers very suitable habitat. White-tailed Eagles are very loyal to where they have grown up and are only likely to breed within 60km of their nest site. So we now hope to reinforce the establishing southern population with a small-scale release of juvenile White-tailed Eagles on Exmoor. The Exmoor coast with its large areas of woodland provides perfect breeding habitat for the birds, which prefer to breed close to areas where they can catch fish, which is their favoured food.

The project, if it was to go ahead, would involve the release of up to 20 birds over a three-year period which may result in around 2 pairs eventually settling on Exmoor as only 35-45% of those 20 birds will reach adulthood. All released White-tailed Eagles are fitted with satellite tags so it is possible to track their daily movements in detail. The diet of the White-tailed Eagles released on the Isle of Wight has been monitored very closely since the first birds were released in 2019. This has showed that fish such as grey mullet is their favoured food, and there have been no cases of predation of livestock.

Since the first White-tailed Eagle visited Exmoor three and a half years ago in June 2021, we have been doing 1:1 visits with landowners and shoots across the National Park particularly focussing on the areas where the eagles have chosen to spend time. We have found that these face-to-face visits have been very helpful in terms of explaining more about the birds and allaying any concerns, particularly important during even more challenging times for the farming community. As part of our wider engagement work, last November we ran two very successful drop-in events which were open to all with staff from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England with around 300 people attending. 

The information event on the 21st January is an opportunity to learn more about the project. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you. No booking is required and if you have any questions about the event, please contact seaeagle@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk.

Wednesday 25th September 2024 6:00-8:30PM

Moorland Hall, TA24 7DU

The LNRS is a new approach to help support nature recovery, that is being rolled out across England. Each county will have its own plan, created by the people of the area, reflecting the needs and priorities for local nature recovery.

Wherever you are in Somerset there are things you can do to help nature thrive. The LNRS will provide the direction to bring nature recovery actions together on a county scale.

Across Somerset, we want to support farmers to:

• Create more, bigger and better habitats.
• Connect the habitats up to allow nature to move more easily across the landscape.
• Create healthy soils, clean air and water, capture carbon, store water and prevent floods, which in turn will benefit the health and wellbeing of Somerset’s communities.

Have your say

We want your input to help make the Somerset Council's Local Nature Recovery Strategy a realistic and deliverable plan for farmers to support what is right for them, wildlife, habitats and local communities.

We would like you to come and have your say at a farmer workshop, run in partnership between the council, FWAG, NFU and CLA, on 25th September 6-8:30pm at Moorland Hall, Wheddon Cross. At the event you will hear about the aims of the LNRS, and you will hear from farmers who practice environmentally friendly farming for business resilience and sustainable food production. You have an integral part to play in shaping this local strategy so there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and for you to shape what it may look like on a landscape scale.

Refreshments will be provided, and the event is free of charge.

Agenda

Somerset Local Nature Recovery Strategy Farmer Workshop

18:00 – 20:30 on 25th September 2024

18:00 Welcome - Steve Dury Somerset Council – introductions

18: 10 Introduction to Somerset LNRS - Steve Dury, SC

Making nature recovery work on a commercial farm business

18:25 – Anne May, Silkenworthy Farm (A May's Farm - upland beef and sheep)

18:40 - Chris Webber, Hindon Organic Farm (upland beef and sheep)

19:00 Break and food

LNRS progress and discussion

19:15 - Progress on Somerset LNRS, and next steps - Steve Dury, SC

Interactive component on emerging Outcomes and Measures - questions and discussion

19:50 Answers to common LNRS queries - Duncan Anderson-Margetts (CLA)

20:05 Q&A panel

20:25 Round up and close

Location

Moorland Hall, TA24 7DU

BOOK YOUR PLACE

You can book your place here: 

Select tickets – Somerset Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS): Farmer Workshop – Moorland Hall (tickettailor.com)

Free Event, Wednesday 31st of July

1:30pm until 3:30pm at Cutcombe Market, with thanks to Exmoor Farmers

We are pleased that Katie Bull, Veterinary Parasitology Research Technician at University of Bristol will be on hand during the day to answer any questions and to help you conduct your faecal egg counts. Bring dung samples from your own farm to test and learn how to analyse a sample yourself. Guidance will be provided to show you what to look for and the results can be checked on the day to ensure accuracy. You will be able to discuss these results with your vet to develop your worming strategy. Details of how to take a dung sample for testing are on the downloadable flier.

Drop in at any time during the day but please book to let us know that you are planning to come.

admin@ehfn.org.uk

We are thrilled to announce the inaugural early breeding sale of Exmoor Horns!

This sale aims to support breeders looking to lamb earlier and to provide an opportunity for flocks to add smaller numbers of females. Partnering with Exmoor Farmers, this event will be held at Cutcombe Market, featuring many successful show rams and females, as well as entries from non-show flocks. Although there will be no judging at the sale, a parade of rams will take place beforehand.

A detailed catalogue, including show results and breeding backgrounds, will be available, with information provided by the vendors. Join us on August 23rd, 2024, for this exciting event!

Entry Deadline August 2nd

Event Timings Parade at 4 PM Sale at 5 PM

The day will also include a Judging Demonstration and an Introduction to Exmoor Horns Workshop.

The cafe will also be open serving food throughout the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Free Event, Monday 17th of June

10:30am until 12:30pm at Blackmoor Gate Market, with thanks to Exmoor Farmers.

We are pleased that Katie Bull, Veterinary Parasitology Research Technician at University of Bristol will be on hand during the day to answer any questions and to help you conduct your faecal egg counts. Bring dung samples from your own farm to test and learn how to analyse a sample yourself. Guidance will be provided to show you what to look for and the results can be checked on the day to ensure accuracy. You will be able to discuss these results with your vet to develop your worming strategy. Details of how to take a dung sample for testing are on the flier below.

Drop in at any time during the day but please book to let us know that you are planning to come.

admin@ehfn.org.uk