For the signed-up landholders, the facilitation funds can:

• Give additional points for Countryside Stewardship applications, so that they are more likely to be successful
• Provide help and advice with Countryside Stewardship applications
• Organise free workshops and training in agriculture, forestry, grants etc, with the subject matter being identified by Facilitation Group members
• Give general advice, support and opportunities for joint working

The Biosphere is the ideal place to host these funds due to our history of landscape scale nature conservation and well developed network of land owner support services. Currently the Biosphere has three operating.

Sign up to get the Taw Valley Landholders Facilitation Group newsletter.

The Taw Valley Landholders Facilitation Group, running from September 2016 to September 2022, has over 50 signed up farming members.  The area covered is nearly 37,290Ha of farmland between North Tawton and Bishops Tawton. 
 
The area has water quality issues, particularly phosphate and nitrate levels. There are also problem levels of faecal indicator organisms in many of the streams and rivers.  There is also significant flood risk at North Tawton, Umberleigh and downstream towards Barnstaple.

The first group meeting was held at the Red Lion Chulmleigh on 29th November 2016. From this meeting the group have put together a programme of workshops and events. The first event was a Hedgerow and Boundaries Grant Workshop to help members apply for this Countryside Stewardship Capital grant. If you want to find out more then please contact Kay Willmott or 01392 388647.

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Newsletters


February 2020

The 2600ha Torridge Headwaters Facilitation Fund is running with 60 enthusiastic landowners signed up. A launch event was held in December 2015 with a great response, providing some interesting discussions about how to take the project forward.  Since the launch , landowners have been getting their hands dirty at a hedge steeping day, and learning about grants for new woodland planting, swaling and much more besides. There are opportunities for more landowners to join this group.  If you want to find out more then please contact
Jasmine Urwick or 01409 221823. 
 
Braunton
The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Facilitation Group covers the area around the North Devon roost in Braunton. 27 farmers have signed up.  The launch event was at Ebrington Arms, Knowle on Monday 14th November 2016. For further details about the group please contact Mike Symes.

Torridge FF area

Taw Valley Facilitation Fund Area

​The European Agricultural Fund for
Rural Development:
​Europe investing in rural areas