Farming and Wildlife Group’s good cause

THE Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group has been championing farming that works for the benefit of both food production and the environment for much longer than it has been fashionable.

In a field that is now thick with proponents telling anyone who will listen what’s good for wildlife, FWAG has always understood that balance in the countryside is always the best way to keep the nation fed, ensure rural communities are thriving and give wildlife a sporting chance too.

So the 500km cycling challenge being undertaken next month by the organisation’s CEO Gary Rumbold and head of advisory services Adam Lockyear is a cause well worth supporting.

They will be taking on a challenge to cycle 500km across the South West, from Cornwall to Gloucestershire.

Their cycle tour ‘Green Revolutions’ will take place over five days, visiting six counties, finishing on Wednesday September 21, covering 100km each day.

Along the route Gary and Adam will visit farms and attend events held at various stops, highlighting the success of FWAG South West projects and the work of our local farmer members.

FWAG SW are hosting this cycle tour to showcase what farmers are doing across the region to produce food and fibre in a thriving landscape for people and nature.

Alongside this, the goal is to raise £10,000 in donations to help it continue supporting its farmer membership scheme.

Gary and Adam will start their cycle tour at Leyonne Farm in Cornwall, which is part of the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) project, with wood pasture creation, hedge planting and is the location for various wildlife surveys. Leyonne Farm is the first of the 11 farms that will be visited over the five-day cycle tour.

Each visit will explore how the farms and projects support thriving businesses, food and fibre production, habitats and species, healthy soils and water, animal health and welfare, healthy crops and education and community engagement.

FWAG South West has more than 60 advisers who work across the region on a range of projects. Green Revolutions will highlight: regenerative farming, organic approaches, wetlands, agroforestry, dairy and mixed farms, as well as conservation breeding of birds like the threatened curlew.

With each donation of £5 and over, people will be entered into a raffle to win a hamper made up of locally produced food and drink.