Grants of up to £5,000 to help improve infrastructure and land management is on offer farmers in the Midlands.
The Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS) is providing grants up to £5000 for infrastructure improvement and land management changes in Severn Trent Water (STW) target areas.
STEPS, now in its fourth year, aims to protect and improve watercourses and the wider environment by supporting improvements which are "above and beyond" good agricultural practice.
The scheme is voluntary and funded by Severn Trent, and is being supported by local agricultural advisors who will provide one to one help with the application process.
To qualify for the scheme, farmers must be situated within a Severn Trent target area, and farm a minimum of 3 hectares. This can be either owned or leased land.
Dr Jodie Rettino, Severn Trent catchment management and biodiversity lead, said: "To-date, we’ve awarded 936 grants worth £4 million and our farmers have also match-funded £4.2 million between them.
“We hope to distribute more funding than ever this year as we believe that working closely with farmers is key to protecting local watercourses, such as rivers and streams, and minimising pollution.
“In turn, this will hopefully reduce the amount of water we have to treat and therefore help keep consumers bills down,” she said.
Grant applications for 2018-19 opens on 1 November 2018 and closes on 31 January 2019.
