Farmers get lowdown on floods and erosion

Farmers from across the north-east gathered at the Lochter Activity Centre, near Oldmeldrum, for a special meeting about managing floods and erosion.

Organised by farmers’ union NFU Scotland and environment agency Sepa, it was organised to help farmers understand what they can and cannot do to manage their drains, ditches, burns and rivers.

NFU Scotland regional manager for the northeast, Lorna Paterson, said: “Knowledgeable and approachable Sepa staff were on hand to explain the current rules, including describing the activities which farmers don’t need a permit for.

“Sepa also explained forthcoming changes that will significantly reduce the cost and paperwork involved in protecting valuable farmland from erosion by rivers and burns.”

She said farmers in attendance at the meeting were also advised about simple registrations as well as the more complex collaborative licences which are available, in order to tackle the effects of flooding, and in some cases mitigate and help prevent further riverbank erosion.

Sandy Shand, Mandy Fraser and George Wordie

Sandy Henderson, Raymond Sharp and Sandy Tulloch

Peter Pollard, Julie Holmes and Jamie Smith