FARMERS across the region will be able to apply for grants of up to £10,000 when the Catchment Sensitive Farming capital grant fund opens for applications on March 1.

The £15.5 million fund is available for carrying out practical work on farms that will help boost the health of England’s streams, rivers, meres and mosses by improving water quality and reducing pollution from agricultural activity.

The pot, administered by Natural England, will be open to provide funding for applications received by April 30.

The scheme is designed to help fund capital works on farms. More than 40 types of project are eligible, including installing water troughs, managing pesticides to reduce groundwater impacts, roofing manure and silage stores and works to keep livestock away from streams.

Grants of up to a maximum £10,000 per holding are available and the scheme can pay 50 per cent of the cost of agreed capital works.

In addition to the grants scheme, the specialist training and advice offered by the Catchment Sensitive Farming local team can save farmers’ money, leading to better business efficiency while at the same time bringing positive environmental outcomes.

The free specialist advice on offer covers a wide range of topics from providing information on nutrient management, planning and soil husbandry, to providing details of the latest developments in fertiliser spreader calibration and soil and water management.

Catchment Sensitive Farming is a joint project between the Environment Agency and Natural England, funded by Defra and the Rural Development Programme for England, working in priority catchments within England.

IContact the Natural England CSF team on 0300 0601111 to request an application pack.