Rising waters | Rooted solutions
Simplifying Funding Opportunities for Farmers
Ousewem is dedicated to collaborating with farmers to implement natural flood management (NFM) practices.
With Natural England as a key member of our delivery team, farmers have new opportunities to secure funding for sustainable initiatives, promoting positive changes throughout the SUNO catchment. While the funding landscape can be complex, Ousewem offers its own funding and provides insight into other potential options. As new funding announcements arise, our team strives to support farmers in navigating these opportunities.
Introducing Emma, Our New Team Member
We are excited to introduce Emma, the newest member of the Ousewem team, who joined us in June. Emma's arrival coincided perfectly with the start of our groundbreaking project at Smaden Head. She is thoroughly impressed with the initiatives the Ousewem team has already embarked on and is eager to contribute to the development of more project sites in the SUNO catchment.
Joining our delivery team
Emma will work closely with Amanda and Matt at Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT) to develop and manage projects that implement natural flood management (NFM). With her extensive experience in the Natural England North Yorkshire area team, she has focused on developing agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier in the Lower Derwent Valley, Yorkshire Wolds, and North York Moors. Her background in protected sites monitoring and casework has equipped her with a solid understanding of environmental policy and legislation.
Leveraging policy expertise for farm advice
In her role with Ousewem, Emma will leverage her policy expertise to provide tailored farm advice and lead the design and implementation of NFM projects across the region. Staying informed about funding opportunities is crucial, and Emma works closely with the Catchment-Sensitive Farming team at Natural England to keep abreast of available options. These include the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier, Biodiversity Net Gain, and various capital grants aimed at enhancing water, soil, and air quality.
In cases where we cannot give specific advice, for example, CSF, we will signpost to sources of alternative advice and funding.
Looking forward to community engagement
Our delivery team have already conducted several site visits, gaining invaluable insights into how NFM can benefit local communities. Emma looks forward to meeting more farmers and landowners, learning about their businesses, and addressing the water management challenges they face. As Emma put it, “The potential of Ousewem to enhance understanding of the SUNO catchments and support farmer livelihoods is truly exciting.”
Here’s to making a real difference together!
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