As well as working directly with farmers across the county, Norfolk FWAG works with a wide range of funders and partners to deliver landscape-scale change. The case studies highlighted below show the positive impact of sustainable farming practices, habitat restoration, and landscape-scale environmental improvements.
Each project demonstrates how we’re working with the Norfolk farming community to enhance biodiversity, soil health, and water quality, while maintaining productive and resilient farm businesses.
Explore our case studies to learn more about the approaches shaping the future of farming and conservation in the region.
Peatlands in the broads: Healthy peatlands are a haven for wildlife, they store carbon in their soils as well as cleaning and storing water in the landscape. The Broads contains a significant amount of England’s lowland peatlands, however approximately one quarter of them are drained for agriculture. When peat is
Project Planning In March 2025, Norfolk FWAG advisers Evan and Sasha met with the landowner and contract farmer to discuss the renewal of their agri-environment scheme. As part of this, we looked at opportunities for restoring and managing ponds across the farm. After reviewing historic maps, we located a number
Norfolk FWAG has positively worked with Norfolk County Council (NCC) on a support scheme for woodland planting schemes across Norfolk. NCC were successful in obtaining funding from DEFRA’s Woodland Creator Accelerator Funding (WCAF) to support tree planting across Norfolk. NFWAG entered into a consultancy agreement with NCC to provide advice and
Invasive non-native species are one of the top 5 drivers of global biodiversity loss and are estimated to cost the UK economy up to £2 billion annually. Over 2000 species have been introduced to the UK; these are known as non-native species. Not of these are harmful, however, around 10-15%
Discover how Norfolk FWAG transformed a derelict marsh near Norwich into a thriving lowland fen, restoring biodiversity, improving flood resilience, and rewetting peatlands to combat climate change. Project Duration: 2022–2025Location: Near Norwich, NorfolkFunding: Environment Agency Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) Background Norfolk FWAG was approached by a landowner with a
Supporting Farmers Through Agricultural Transition In 2024, Norfolk FWAG ran our third round of the Farm for the Future programme, delivered in partnership with the Royal Countryside Fund. Funded by Defra’s Farming Resilience Fund, it helped farmers in England tackle challenges and understand the opportunities presented by the agricultural transition.
In 2024–2025, Norfolk FWAG led a Test & Trial (T&T) project on behalf of DEFRA to understand how farmers perceive collaborative working, particularly within farmer cluster groups. The aim was to understand what encourages or discourages farmers from joining or forming such groups – and how future policy and funding
In the 1990s, Norfolk established Roadside Nature Reserves (RNRs) to protect and enhance diverse plant communities along our waysides. These RNRs hold some of the last remnants of Norfolk’s natural grasslands, that would have been widespread prior to agricultural intensification from the 1940’s onwards. They have preserved unique assemblages of
What is our involvement in the Deer Management Sector? In May 2024 a deer management workshop was held by the Broads Authority, Norfolk FWAG and the Forestry Commission to discuss the growing deer population in the Norfolk Broads. This meeting highlighted the necessity for a more effective and coordinated approach
In 2011, Norfolk FWAG conducted research to identify areas where our rarer arable plants still occur in Norfolk. The report provided an understanding to assist in targeting environmental stewardship options and other initiatives that will benefit them. The arable flora is now one of the most threatened group of plants
During the winter period of 2023-2024, Norfolk FWAG worked alongside Norfolk County Council to identify neglected farmland ponds that were suitable for restoration through Natural England’s District Level Licensing Scheme. We are pleased to share that four ponds were successfully restored for the benefit of great crested newt and a
In celebration of Earth Day, a spirited group of volunteers from Crisp Malt joined forces with representatives from Norfolk FWAG — Henry Walker and Bea White — along with farmer, Nick Anema, for a day of tree guard removal as a part of their corporate membership. Under a sky of
As the Norfolk delivery partner for the Royal Countryside Funded Farm for the Future programme, Norfolk FWAG’s Sasha Wells and Bea White are providing essential support to Norfolk farmers. The Programme The aim of this programme is to support farmers and landowners through the Agricultural Transition Plan by providing business
Norfolk FWAG has engaged with the Royal Countryside Fund (previously known as the Prince’s Countryside Fund) for a number of years. The charity founded by HRH King Charles is dedicated to helping rural communities and farming families navigate increasingly challenging times by providing free workshops, 1 to 1 visits and a variety
In September 2024 Norfolk FWAG worked with local contractors to restore a historic pond close to the village of East Winch, West Norfolk. The pit had been partially filled in and was entirely overgrown with willow. The larger of the two basins is fed by a pipe and held a
In 2023, Norfolk FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) and Pastures & Habitats Limited worked together to design and implement an ambitious Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Scheme. The aim was to enhance and manage approximately 150 hectares of permanent grassland on the Halvergate marshes for the benefit of breeding waders and
Why was the Skills Gap Analysis conducted? The Norfolk Environmental Skills Gap Analysis (NESGA) was commissioned to identify and address skills shortages in Norfolk’s rural and coastal sectors, ensuring that land and marine managers are equipped to meet the environmental challenges of the future. The study was undertaken as part
From September 2024 to January 2025 Norfolk FWAG will be conducting a Test & Trial funded by DEFRA to better understand the attitudes towards collaboration. This ‘Test’ was devised to answer the questions in the collaboration theme: It can be suggested that DEFRA are looking to learn more about how
In early 2024, Norfolk FWAG and Norwich City Council were commissioned by Broadland District Council to undertake a feasibility study in the area marked on the map below. The feasibility study, known as Nature North of Norwich (NNoN), will look at a farming and community led approach to nature recovery.
Norfolk FWAG have partnered with the Broads Authority, BAWAG and Cranfield University on a DEFRA funded project called the Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot. The aim of the project is to better understand what the issues might be when water levels on Broads based grazing marshes are changed. Water levels
Farmland birds provide important ecosystem services and are excellent indicators of overall ecosystem health. Many farmland birds have experienced steep decline since the 1970s in response to rapid changes in farming practices, urbanisation, and climate change. The worst affected are those that are heavily reliant of farmland habitats for nesting and food, known as ‘specialists’. These include species such as yellowhammer, turtle dove, grey partridge, and skylark. ‘Generalist’ species
