Western Rother Sediment Study Arun and Rother Rivers Trust Sandra Manning-Jones Catchment Sensitive Farming Tom Edwards and Sammy Read Project Partners
Agenda 10:30 Introduction to the CSF and ARRT sediment project- including details of support available to farmers through CSF, CS, Southern Water Capital Grant Scheme. 10:50 Dr Robert Simmons: Use of filter socks as a method of sediment capture and reduction of chemicals and nutrients in subsequent run off. 11:30 David Miller: Conservation Agriculture farmer, discuss ways to improve soil health such as min/zero till, cover crops. 12:10 Tea break. 12:20 Farming Rules for Water (delivered by CSF), including a particular focus on rules around soil erosion. 12:40 Lunch and stalls providing information on support available to farmers from South Downs National Park, Southern Water, CSF, Rother Valley Farmers Group. 14:00 Optional farm walk to see a type of sediment mitigation measure funded by the project; filter sock. Project Partners 15:00 Finish.
Rother Valley, West Sussex • Rother Valley – one of the most erodible catchments in the UK. • Sandy river valley – easily eroded by rain, wind and drought. • Not a new issue – but problems increasing. • Wide range of impacts on local area – particularly the River Rother. ➢ Fish spawning and river habitats. ➢ Raising bed levels – river channel and ponds. ➢ Blockages. ➢ Loss of bankside trees – rivershade and cover. • Lots of background academic research.
• 1840s tithe map – digitised by University of Portsmouth. • Floodplain entirely hay meadows. • Higher percentage of arable than today. • Less intensively managed woodland.
Soil erosion in the Western Rother Ephemeral gully Gully in winter wheat Sandy soil erosion
Soil degradation due to Since 1850, 84% of compaction, loss of fertile topsoil has been organic matter and eroded and continuing erosion is estimated to at a rate of 1-3cm every cost over a billion pounds year every year across England and Wales
Run-off attenuation features Soil bund Sediment Trap Check dam Filter fence Debris Dam Filter sock
Existing sediment measures in the Western Rother
Thinking about soil health • Organic Matter / worm counts / soil assessment • Cultivation techniques – tillage / cross slope contours / timing / machinery • Crop types, inter-cropping and rotations • Integrate livestock • Irrigation and drainage
Countryside Stewardship Options for mitigating soil loss Woodland and scrub options Soil and water options: • • Woodland edges on arable land (enhance buffer between 4-6m buffer strips woodland and field by allowing development of scrub) • Infield grass strips • Wetland options • 12-24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land • Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland • Winter cover crops • Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in arable land • Arable reversion to grassland with low • Management of ditches of high environmental value fertiliser input • Riparian management strip Arable options: • Beetle banks • Flower-rich margins • Unharvested cereal headlands • Two year sown legume fallow Project Partners
Countryside Stewardship Capital Items for mitigating soil loss • Gateway relocation • Sediment ponds and traps • Earth banks and soil bunds • Silt filtration dams/seepage barriers • Swales • Check dams • Boundary capital items • Hedgerow gapping • Planting new hedges Project Partners
Project Partners
Farm Advice Framework Specialist 1:1 on-farm advice • CSF farming review • Maximising CS opportunities through CSF • Farm infrastructure audit • Pesticide handling and application • Farm machinery testing & calibration • Bio-bed and pesticide facilities design • Soil & nutrient management • Water management plans plans • Water holding structure design and • Soil & manure sampling management • Soil husbandry • On farm review of pathways for sources of faecal contamination of water course • Slurry/manure handling and storage • Conserving nitrogen through ammonia emissions and run-off
Guidance for the Rother Valley now available
Sediment Project Deliverers: ARRT and CSF The aim: To construct and demonstrate different types of mitigation measures for sediment loss These measures will be monitored to establish a benchmark and guidance for farmers in the Rother Valley as to which method can most effective to reduce sediment in surface water runoff.
Upcoming Events AHDB dairy and CSF Ammonia event in the Ouse catchment 8th May Groundswell: Conservation Agriculture 26th – 27th June Lannock Manor Farm, Hertfordshire
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