FARMERS in the Lyd catchment in Devon need to apply by 20 December for grant funding to help improve water quality and more.
Environmental charity, the Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) launched an online auction on Monday 2 December to support positive land management improvements.
These include woodland planting, aeration or sub-soiling of grassland, cover crops for arable areas, watercourse fencing, field buffer strips, installing ponds or wetland features.
Hazel Kendall, head of land management at the trust, said: “These options all contribute to improving water quality, but also deliver benefits for soil management, habitat provision, Carbon sequestration or flood mitigation – bringing greater value from each investment.
“The auction will be reviewed after 20 December before one more final bidding week is opened, with funding offers issued in early January.”
The auction is part of the Channel Payments for Ecosystem Services (CPES) Interreg EU-funded project.
This project investigates opportunities to develop investment into river catchments for environmental benefit – known as Payments for Ecosystem Services.
The current NatureBid funds have been made available via a group of local organisations who have formed a Water Stewardship Business Board.
This board contributes to improving the longer-term resilience of river catchments and has direct or indirect interests in the local area due to their supply chains.
The CPES project has also established an online fund where further donation from interested companies or individuals can be made, supporting greater spend locally as a result.
The trust is implementing this auction to trial interest, assess practicality and gather feedback.
Visit WRT’s and the Environment Agency’s tamar.naturebid.org.uk to register and apply.
Contact Anthony or Dave from WRT’s Land Team on 01579 372140 for further help or support.