Water in Focus – Direct Driller

Companion cropping in OSR appears to reduce herbicide losses to water

Affinity Water has been working with local farmer, Rob Fox, to investigate the role of companion cropping on improving water quality, soil health and crop protection. Direct Driller, delves into what they’ve found from the ongoing trials. Catchment areas in the UK are largely dominated by agricultural land, which makes collaboration between water companies like …

Companion cropping in OSR appears to reduce herbicide losses to water Read More »

Anglian Water’s Grant scheme supports farmers with innovative ideas to improve soil health and water quality

Water in Focus / By Direct Driller

In Autumn 2022, Anglian Water announced a grant scheme inviting farmers from across the catchment area to apply for funding of up to £7,500 towards innovative ideas that would help them to improve water quality, reduce chemical use and support the improvement of soil health. A total of 65 farmers were awarded grants for innovation …

Anglian Water’s Grant scheme supports farmers with innovative ideas to improve soil health and water quality Read More »

WATER FOCUS – THAMES WATER

Water in Focus / By Direct Driller

Creating a Smarter Water Catchment in the Evenlode – Thames Water No Till & Cover Crop trial Thames Water has recently started a No Till and Cover Crop trial in the Evenlode river catchment as part of its ‘Smarter Water Catchments’ initiative. The company’s work, alongside colleagues from Atkins and Natural England, is helping to …

WATER FOCUS – THAMES WATER Read More »

Water Focus – Affinity Water Feature We’ve Got It Covered

Water in Focus / By Shaun Dowman

Written by Shaun Dowman, Agricultural Advisor at Affinity Water Cover crops are very popular at the moment and for good reason. As readers of Direct Driller you will be more likely than most to grow cover crops on your farm and may well be convinced to invest the time and money needed to grow them …

Water Focus – Affinity Water Feature We’ve Got It Covered Read More »

Water Focus – Affinity Water

Water in Focus / By Kings College London

New technologies for understanding the benefits of regenerative agriculture and cover crops Sophia Burke, AmbioTEK CIC, Mark Mulligan, King’s College London and Shaun Dowman, Affinity Water Affinity Water is a drinking water supply company in the south-east of England. Supplying water in an area designated as being under ‘serious water stress’, it is critical that …

Water Focus – Affinity Water Read More »

Scrap The Pumps

Water in Focus / By Direct Driller

It is becoming increasingly apparent that our approach to flood management needs a re-think. Expensive structures and barriers, pumps and sluices might look impressive but if all they do is push the water into someone else’s kitchen further down-stream then it’s a rather hollow victory. Likewise, dredging tonnes of lost topsoil from the riverbeds so …

Scrap The Pumps Read More »

Water Focus – Thames Water

Water in Focus / By Matthew Izod

It’s only 4ha, what difference will it make? Written by Matthew Izod of Priory Farm Priory Farm Priory Farm is a 100ha arable family run farm in the Evenlode catchment of the Cotswolds, with 100ha also being rented. The farm is run by my Dad, Nathan, who has been farming here since he was old …

Water Focus – Thames Water Read More »

Water Focus Affinity Water

Water in Focus / By Shaun Dowman

Written by Shaun Downman from Afftinity Water I’m sure you are all fully aware that this autumn has been wet! However, thinking back to September things were very different. Where I live on the Hertfordshire/Cambridgeshire border, I can pinpoint the day the dry weather ended. I had willingly brought my spade along to a field …

Water Focus Affinity Water Read More »

Water Focus Affinity Water Sponsor Feature Groundswell 2019

Water in Focus / By Shaun Dowman

At this year’s Groundswell, headline sponsor and the UK’s largest water-only supplycompany, Affinity Water will demonstrate the relationship between soil health, waterresources and the environment. Shaun Dowman, agricultural advisor at Affinity Water, explains that there is a need to change how we manage our soils and water resources, and that a close relationship between farmers …

Water Focus Affinity Water Sponsor Feature Groundswell 2019 Read More »

WATER FOCUS – AFFINITY WATER

Water in Focus / By Direct Driller

Soil and Water Our population is growing and so is the demand for food, highlighting the importance of farming to us all. This growing population will also need more water, especially in the south-east of England. The company I work for, Affinity Water, supplies water in an area already under ‘serious water-stress’ so it is …

WATER FOCUS – AFFINITY WATER Read More »