Work Package 3

Test and Trial

This work package focuses on understanding, learning from, and supporting the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in three distinct sites. Through partnerships with South East Rivers Trust, Wye and Usk Foundation, and North Essex Farm Cluster, three NbS interventions taking place on farms in Kent, Herefordshire and Essex have been identified as central to this work package. The management and governance of each of these NbS interventions will be explored qualitatively, in order to capture the complex decisions, strategies and processes that underpin the planning, delivery and ongoing management and impacts of such interventions.

Research Approach and Methodology:

This work package adopts an action research approach, meaning that data will be collected on site with farmers, land managers and a variety of stakeholders, as they make decisions around the governance of their own NbS interventions. This ensures that those actively governing NbS will be front and centre in the design of the interventions and the research that emerges from them. Given that this work package is linked to specific sites in Kent, Herefordshire and Essex, and seeks to respond to the realities of each place, an inductive research approach will be adopted. This is supported by broad, explorative research questions, which enable us, through this work package, to identify relevant themes or issues related to each place-based intervention.

In terms of methods – an ethnographic research approach, supported by semi-structured interviews, will contribute to data collection at each NbS site, alongside a process of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) which will support an evaluation of the NbS unique to each place and its stakeholders. The specific nature of the PRA at each site is yet to be determined as this will be developed alongside farmers and key stakeholders as the work package progresses.

Research Questions

How do farmers and land managers navigate the complexities of implementing NbS in practice?
What effects do farmers’ and land managers’ governance strategies have on the wider impacts of their NbS interventions?
How do farmers’ and land managers’ decisions around NbS interact with decisions related to land use transitions on their farm?

Our Partners

North Essex Farm Cluster

Pant Valley Pilot Project

The North Essex Farm Cluster is a community of farmers and landowners, working together to deliver greater benefits for soil, water and wildlife in the beautiful north Essex landscape. Taking in the River Pant and Blackwater catchments, the Cluster provides project design and management, advice, funding, Continued Professional Development (CPD) courses, networking and events for its members. The Cluster has more than 75 members farming an area of 25,000 hectares.

The North Essex Farm Cluster is currently working on the Pant Valley Pilot project, which is focused on a 5km stretch of the River Pant where 12 farms are working together on a habitat restoration project that combines pond creation, hedgerow restoration and agroforestry across their holdings. The project has a series of satellite projects that reach out across the Cluster, including deer management, a CPD programme and a community engagement programme.

South East Rivers Trust

Mosaic wetland construction at West Pike Fish Farm

The project at West Pikefish Farm is a nature-based restoration initiative aimed at transforming a 3.5 hectare area of former orchard site into a diverse, resilient floodplain habitat. Located on the River Teise floodplain, the low-lying site has heavy clay soils, is flood prone and suffers from agricultural impacts. The work, which supports a more Sustainable approach to land management, will restore a mosaic of wetland, grassland, and riparian habitats to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality and bring about greater climate resilience by helping to mitigate against extreme weather events and sequestering carbon. The project is part of the Holistic Water for Horticulture Project – a UK Food and Drink Pact project supported by WRAP.

Wye and Usk Foundation

Multi-benefit Farm Wetlands as Nature based solutions in North Herefordshire

The Wye and Usk Foundation will create two farm wetlands formed by a series of wetland scrapes and pools at two locations in North Herefordshire to help conserve water quality and flow in sub tributaries of the River Wye.

The wetlands will:

Slow flows to reduce flood risk
Contribute to whole farm water management resilience strategies
Create diverse habitats to enhance biodiversity
Reduce sediment load at times of high surface water run off
Add to farm landscape diversity
Contribute to an evidence base for on-farm Nature Based Solutions (NbS) through the JUL project

Creation of farm wetlands requires detailed planning through different stages, working closely with farmers, stake holders, and suppliers to completion over what can be multi-year projects. We are very pleased to be a delivery partner with City St George’s, University of London to document this process and highlight the value of NbS approaches.