Farmland is by a very large margin our largest land-use type, at over 50% of the surface of Ireland. EU funding and farming advice in recent decades had focused almost exclusively on creating “productive” land, farmland which can be used for food production. As a consequence, our farms have become increasingly barren of wild spaces, nature and natural habitats, even on land that is unsuitable for food production, but kept open to show up on satellite maps as “productive”. This funding focus is slowly changing to acknowledge other benefits offered by soil and land-use such as flood control, pollination, shelter for livestock and crops, carbon sequestration and soil building.
FH Wetland Systems have worked with with both farming groups and advisory groups around Ireland, looking specifically at ways to use farm scale buffer zones, planted wetland channels and farm ponds to provide habitat and/or to filter field run-off. Some of the organisations we’ve worked with include the Waters EIP, Farming for Nature, BASE Ireland, the Inishowen Uplands EIP, the Inishowen Rivers Trust, the Mulkear EIP and BurrenBeo’s Hare’s Corner pond project and Teagasc.
There are also many other measures that can be used to support nature on the farm, improve soil health, enhance flood control and drought resilience and enhance both farm income diversity and biodiversity. Examples include agroforestry, silvopasture, permaculture, farm scale composting, holistic planned grazing, no-till agriculture, conservation agricultural practices, biochar or EM (effective microorganisms) soil amendments and others. We can offer an overview of these practices and point your farm in the direction of specific consultants or advisors who can best help to provide guidance on a case by case basis.
Farm Scale Buffer Zones
Wherever rainfall lands, it starts to flow into and through the landscape. The more we pave over the soil, converting open land into urban space, the greater the potential for flooding and pollution. The same thing happens to a lesser degree, but on a broader scale, as we drain farmland and remove space for water to rest and soak into the soil. Following are some of the solutions for repair of the hydrological cycle in our own sites, farms or river catchments.
FH Wetland Systems offers SUDS and farm measures design and consultancy as well as plant supply and maintenance guidance.
Prevention of water pollution is vital for any farm, as it is for any business. While land spreading can return nutrients to the land in optimum soil and weather conditions, , it is still all too common for run-off from fields to wash those nutrients into local rivers and streams, having a serious impact on water quality. Soil and silt can readily wash into watercourses from ploughed fields while the use of fertilisers and biocides can also cause run-off pollution. To help address these potential pollution sources, local watercourses can be protected by careful use of farm scale buffer zones.
Buffer zones can help to improve water quality for fish and wildlife, as well as providing a significant measure of insurance against potential pollution incidents. Field scale buffer zones can be planted with trees for a firewood crop for as part of commercial biofuel production; with wetland plants useful for filtration in unused boggy corners. Even measures as simple as planted drains or ponds can collecting field run-off and provide storage and settlement below steeply sloping fields where soil would otherwise wash directly to the adjacent stream. Every small positive measure improves the overall water quality in the area.
These measures are now funded under the Waters EIP and ACRES funding schemes; or can be built unfunded on the initiative of the farmer without the need for planning permission or discharge licences.
Downloadable resources for farm-scale pollution reduction measures from yards and fields:
Farm-scale willow systems (construction)
Farm-scale willow systems (planting and harvesting)
You can also read here about some more possibilities for your farm.
Habitat enhancement
Many of us remember frogs, barn owls and bats on farms in the past and may want to recreate the conditions for these to thrive alongside food growing and livestock.
We offer consultancy and guidance to farmers looking to improve the opportunities for wildlife habitat on your farm.
Ponds, for example, are an easy and very effective way to bring wildlife back to our farms.
| What we offer for farms: – Farm buffer zone design & consultancy, including Farming for Water EIP and ASSAP measures – Maintenance guidelines for farm-scale systems – Specialist consultancy for farm advisors – Waterway and/or farm-scale rewilding plans/consultancy – Specialised training and workshops – Supply of willow cuttings & wetland plants – A range of free resources on nature-based solutions for farms – See our blog/articles section for further reading about farm solutions. |