Welsh farmers can now apply for a water grant to support farm water management from Glastir Small Grants Scheme.
The water grant application expression of interest started on the 12th of December until 11.59 on the 27th of January 2017. The scheme supports the Welsh Government’s initiative to improve agricultural water management.
Available activities under the water grant fall into two categories –
The improvement of water quality such as the use of cross drains, gutters and downpipes to separate clean and dirty water runoff from yards and tracks. Which will reduce the amount of dirty water, enabling it to be stored or removed in accordance with best practice guidelines.
The other focus and use for the water grant is for small-scale tree planting, hedgerow planting, and pond restoration in order to reduce the amount of water running off farmland and reduce the risk of flooding.
Welsh farmers and landowners could benefit from up to £7,500 for capital works if they are selected. The total budget available from The Welsh Government’s Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme for Wales is £1.5 million.
Glastir Small Grants is a scheme to support capital works and is available to Welsh farmers for projects that help improve water quality and reduce flooding.
The scheme is separated into “Main” and “Supportive” Capital Works
The main focus of the project comes under The Main Capital Work
The Supportive Capital Works consists of any necessary supportive works to undertake the main project. The Water Grant covers Capital Works chosen for environmental benefits in line with the Welsh Government’s current objectives.
The main capital works projects available are:
- hedge laying
- new hedge planting
- hedge coppicing and gapping-Up
- trees and shrubs (transplants)
- cross drains
- kerbing
- maintenance of gateways (hardcore)
- sleeping policemen
- rainwater goods – guttering
- rainwater goods – downpipe
- in-ditch wetland
- soft engineering of river banks
- pond restoration
- relocation of sheep dips and holding pens
- relocation of sheep pens.
Water Grant Application Process
To be considered for the water grant from Glastir Small Grants, an expression of interest needs to be submitted online via the Rural Payments Wales. If you have not already registered with RPW (Rural Payments Wales) online it is recommended that you do so as soon as possible to ensure that you can apply for the water grant. All land that the grant application is associated with must already be registered with the Welsh Government’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS)
Glastir Small Grants forms part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme for Wales 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Scheme aims:
- Reducing Carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Adapting to climate change and building greater resilience into farm and forest businesses.
- Managing our water resources to improve water quality and reduce flood risks.
- Protecting the landscape and the historic environment while improving access.
- Contributing towards a reversal in the decline of Wales’ native biodiversity.
The expressions of interest are scored on the ability to contribute towards delivering the aims of the Glastir Small Grants Theme. Those with the ability to deliver the most towards the aim of each theme are scored highest.
Water Grant Scoring and Selection Process
The water grant expressions of interest will be selected based on a scoring system based on the most impact on the environment that fits with the aims of the grant, which are focused on contributing to the improvement of water quality and reduced flooding risk.
Each land parcel in Wales has been given an eligibility score for each individual activity. For example, a land parcel that is within a water vole area, but is not within a flood risk area will be assigned a high score for activities that improve water quality such as guttering option 910 but will be assigned a low score for activities that reduce volume of water runoff such as tree planting option 611.
Water Grant for Rainwater Harvesting
The water grant can be used to cover some of the cost of a rainwater harvesting system from Agrismart. We install complete rainwater harvesting systems to existing outbuildings or sheds, the rainwater from the roofs is diverted to water storage, where it can be treated with water treatment prior to use. Agrismart offers chlorine dioxide water treatment which is effective at killing pathogens and biofilm prevention.
We are dedicated to offering a complete water management solution as an alternative to mains water. Water is not an infinite resource, the costs of maintaining and treating mains water is going up year on year. Increased demand and climate change are both putting pressure on water supplies and pushing up the cost.
Although the water grant won’t cover the whole install of a rainwater harvesting system it will help towards the cost, bringing down the outlay will also bring down the time of your return on investment. So you can have a free, sustainable alternative to mains water in a more preferable time span than without the grant, so it would be a great opportunity to take advantage of.
Agrismart also has a zero energy pump which pumps water to where you need it, such as remote areas of your farm. If you have a natural water source on your farm such as a river or stream the zero energy pump allows you to pump water from your water source to any remote areas on your farm and to exactly where it’s required.
The zero energy pump can pump water to higher ground to exactly where you require it for livestock watering, providing free water for your livestock.
The zero energy pump offers a sustainable free alternative to mains water without even requiring fuel costs to run it and a 5-year guarantee.
For more information on the water grant from Glastir Small Grants.
To contact Agrismart for a chat –
Email: info@agrismart.co.uk / Tel: 01522 880005 or reach us on Facebook.
Farming Grants:
Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS)
Agrismart provides Water Management aimed at providing an ROI of around 36 months. Agrismart’s water management is over 75% self-sustainable. Providing an alternative source of water to mains incorporating rainwater harvesting, zero energy pump, water treatment, water storage and water system installation. Providing your agricultural business with a complete agricultural water management solution and alternative to mains water.
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