All's well down on the farm
Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Berkshire has won the NFU Agriculture & Horticulture category of the Environment Agency's Water Efficiency Awards 2005. The 2000-acre farm's sustainable water management project was also picked as the Defra Overall Winner for water efficiency.
The whole-farm approach to water conservation developed by Sheepdrove was recognised today at the Environment Agency's Water Efficiency Awards 2005 ceremony in Savoy Place, London. Sir John Harman, Chairman of the Environment Agency hosted the event, which also featured keynote speeches from the Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment, Elliot Morley MP and Channel 4's Grand Design television presenter Kevin McCloud.
Sheepdrove is a mixed organic farm, with 60% of the land devoted to livestock and the remaining 40% used to grow cereals, beans, borage and seed. The farm made annual water savings of over 1,600m³ by reusing wastewater treated in a specially constructed reedbed system. Due to the high cost of tankering wastewater off site, this reedbed system will pay for itself in 18 months and will then save the farm over £200,000 per year in reduced costs. The farm also installed water-efficient appliances in the farm office and conference centre and provides active education and promotional activities.
The judges' panel said that the approach of Sheepdrove's project was excellent and demonstrated an environmentally aware ethos across the whole business.
Sheepdrove organic farm, however, was not the only farm to receive recognition for water efficiency good practice. Brackenburgh Home Farms' Dairy Modernisation project also received a commendation. By using rainwater harvested from the new dairy roof and recycling plate cooling water for stock watering and washing down, Brackenburgh reduced their consumption of mains water by 37%. They also achieved additional financial savings from reduced slurry production.
As in previous years, the entries were of great quality and diversity. The judges had a hard job to decide on the winners. Graham Setterfield, Chairman of the Judges Panel said: "All the finalists showed a strong commitment to water efficiency. We had a really difficult time picking the winners. The winning and commended projects, however showed they were willing to 'go the extra mile'"
Wise use of water will become increasingly important to protect valuable conservation sites from the impacts of abstraction. Some of the pressure on water resources which leads to abstractions being unsustainable can be addressed by individuals and businesses using water more efficiently. Where changes to abstraction licences are required to protect conservation sites, the Environment Agency will work with the licence holder to identify an appropriate solution. It is likely that payment of compensation will be payable in such circumstances.
The Awards play a crucial role in developing understanding of what can be done to use water wisely and particularly the practical steps that can be taken and the financial and environmental benefits. All the finalists in the NFU Agriculture & Horticulture category demonstrated water efficiency good practice as well as resulting financial savings. The Agency will continue to work with the NFU and other organisations to encourage all abstractors to use water wisely.
