1. Do You Have a Local Wildlife Site?

Under a contract with Herefordshire Council, FWAG are offering free advice to owners of Local Wildlife Sites. There are 648 Local Wildlife Sites in Herefordshire, ranging from small pieces of roadside verge, to large woodlands. Many farmers and landowners probably do not know they have these designated sites on their farms, so FWAG advisers will be contacting owners to tell them why the land was originally designated, and to offer free advice followed by a simple management plan, which includes a map and aerial photos. If you already know that there is a Local Wildlife Site on your farm and you would like to take advantage of free advice, which may include advice on grants available, then please call one of the advisers.

2. Common land on The Black Mountains - the next 10 years

The Sheep Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (SWES) on the English side of the Black Mountains will finish this autumn. Natural England have awarded a contract to FWAG to work on behalf of the commoners on the Black Hill and the Hatterall Ridge to explore the possibility of setting up an HLS agreement to cover both these commons. Caroline Hanks and local agent Philip Ferguson are working on this over the coming months. Recent years have seen some significant changes in the way the common is managed, including off wintering sheep, and the benefits of this are already evident in the heathland and grassland on the hill. For further information please contact Caroline Hanks: 01981 251016