CLA Cymru engages with Wye Living Labs project

CLA Cymru staff members attended the first two workshops of the Wye Living Labs project. The research aims to produce data on practical, farm-level interventions that contribute to water quality. There is still an opportunity for you to feedback to the project.

The Living Labs project was initiated by the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), joint-funded with Welsh Government and delivered by the University of the West of England (UWE). The £1m project will create 'living labs' on a small number of farms to gather evidence on what actions agriculture can take to best ensure water quality. DEFRA intend to use this data to inform future incentive schemes.

The first two workshops have focussed on defining the scope of the project and UWE have asked for local land managers' input. CLA Cymru attended both workshops to represent members. We emphasised the importance of quantifying the contribution of measures taken by individual farmers to water quality so that the rural sector can be recognised for the effects of its actions (such as covering slurry stores and creating scrapes and ponds).

The third workshop will take place in Whitney on the 10 of August where land managers will have the opportunity to contribute to decision-making on which farms are selected as 'living labs'. Anyone with a connection to the river Wye is welcome to attend and information will be shared through the Herefordshire Rural Hub events page. CLA Cymru will be attending to ensure members are represented in a process that will influence government policy.

If you would like to learn from fellow farmers and land managers about grassroots steps you can take to contribute to water quality or engage with leading stakeholders, join us for the CLA Cymru Wye Water Summit. The event forms part of our Water Wise programme and will take place on the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd on the 1 October. Discover more detail and book your place here.