The Wye and Usk Foundation worked to deliver the aims of the Environment Agency in the Arrow catchment. The project ran from September 2025 to march 2026.
The aim of the project was to improve water quality, reduce diffuse pollution, build organic matter, soil health, structure and retention through better regenerative farming practices and to contribute to increased biodiversity, wildlife.
It was funded through the Water Environment Improvement programme (WEIF) administered by the Environment Agency with match funding from Wye & Usk Supply chain Supported Soil Improvements (WUSSI) and Wye Agri Supply Chain (WASP)
Â
Delivery
WUF advisors delivered farm visits to advise on and plan interventions on farm which could deliver the aims of the project. Working closely with farmers, landowners and contractors they delivered the projects brilliantly on budget and on time.
We faced a very tight timescale, with only 6 months to deliver 6 individual projects on different sites and at the most challenging time of year, from September to March through a very wet winter, when much of this work should ideally have been carried out in the summer with drier ground conditions.
Â
Results/impact/outcome
All planned interventions were delivered on time and budget.
Lessons LearnedÂ
We learned that without existing knowledge and relationships in the catchment it would have been impossible to deliver the project, there was not sufficient time to cold call and scope projects.
 Advice for othersÂ
Ensure you have sufficient contingency (financial and time) built in to allow for changeable weather, contractor availability and anything else that might crop up.
