Meet the farmers of the Chalke Valley, Wiltshire to find out what they are doing to conserve their rare and precious chalk stream. Andrew, Ben and Matthew are members of the Chalke Valley Farmer Cluster and also the pioneering Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), supported by the GWCT.
This is part of the Martin Down Farmer Supercluster
Ref: CSFF110007
Lead: Simon Smart, simonsmartblacksheep@gmail.com
Group members: 16
Length of agreement: 5
Area of group (Hectares): 5601
From the CS statement of priorities for Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase, we will deliver the following:
Priority habitats (including SSSI, NNR and SAC):
- Lowland calcareous grassland – More than 340ha
- Ancient and native woodland
- Riparian habitats associated with priority rivers River Ebble
- Arable field margins
Priority species:
- Corn bunting
- Lapwing
- Turtle Dove
- Marsh Fritillary
- Juniper
- Spotted flycatcher
- Marsh tit
- Tree pipit
The Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package
Water quality:
- Phosphate, groundwater and river nitrate, sediment priorities within the Hampshire Avon Catchment
Flood risk management:
- Flood risk management within the River Ebble catchment, upstream of Nunton
Historic environment:
- Scheduled Monuments (SM)
- Designated and undesignated farm buildings
- SHINE sites
Woodland management:
- Protected Woodland .SSSI
