At the moment there is a lot going on in the agricultural world in terms of new and emerging agri-environment grants and schemes, as well as local events and training. You can find out more about these in the latest edition of the Mersey Rivers Trust farming newsletter here.

Of major note is the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, opened for applications last week with the deadline of 17th January 2024 to use the online checker to submit an expression of interest. This grant will help farmers improve thier slurry storage facilities and ensure adequate storage throughout the winter months. More information on this is available here.

Farming groups and landowners are also being encouraged to bid for share of £2.5 million Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund, which supports groups of farmers, foresters and land managers that wish to collaborate to improve thier local environment and habitats on the land they manage, such as enhancing wildflower and grassland or protecting meadows and woodlands. Applications are open until the 15th January 2024. There is more information on this scheme here.

The latest 'Pasture News' newsletter has also been released by the Environment Agency Agriculture Team. The newsletter explains a bit more about the regulatory activity the EA is carrying out on farms, what they have found and how they're working with farmers and landowners to solve the issues they have found. You can read this newsletter here

Lasty, we have the Water Freindly Farming Hub on the Mersey Rivers Trust website where we link funds, training courses, events, case studies and advice on how you can make your farm more water friendly.  You can explore the hub here.   Mersey Rivers Trust is still providing free business advice to farmers in the Cotebrook, Utkinton, Darnhall, Wettenhall and Winsford areas, so please get in touch here to find out more and book and appointment with one of our farm advisors.

It's our 25th Birthday !

On 6th October 1998, the Healthy Waterways Trust was formed. The Trust was created as the charitable arm of the Mersey Basin Campaign to help deliver community-based actions to improve the health of the River Mersey and its tributaries.

In 2013, the Healthy Waterways Trust became a Rivers Trust, joining the national Rivers Trust movement.  Shortly after, the charity changed its name to the Healthy Rivers Trust to reflect joining the Rivers Trust movement.

In 2017, the Healthy Rivers Trust and the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust merged to form the current charity - the Mersey Rivers Trust.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has worked for and supported the Trust throughout the past 25 years. We have had some great success and hope to continue our work to improve the Mersey rivers for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Here’s to another successful 25 years!

Previous Next

Last Wednesday evening, a free Pie and Pint night was held at the was held at Alvanley Arms pub, Cotebrook for farmers across the Upper Weaver as part of the United Utilities BRBNW Programme.  This event was run by Mersey Rivers Trust farm advisors who have been working in the area since 2019.

At the evening, whilst pints were enjoyed, presentations were given by both Mersey Rivers Trust and ADAS staff to those present, with extensive opportunities throughout to ask questions and discuss opportunities.

Mersey Rivers Trust highlighted the opportunities for farms in the Darley and Ash Brooks to get involved in the current WEIF funded project to support farms in these catchments with free business advice, Water Management Plans and small amounts of funding for interventions.  ADAS presented on the different ways that emerging agri-environment schemes could benefit farmers for doing work they are already doing, and how they could change some aspects of management to be more water friendly and claim payments for this.

The evening was well received by the 25 farmers in attendance, with two farm visits immediately booked on the evening, and six attendees already having benefitted from farm visits.  Feedback was positive with farmers noting that 'SFI was explained well, and other options too which are daunting to me,' and that they enjoyed 'excellent presentations,' and felt they got a 'better understanding of what help is available.'

Mersey Rivers Trust will continue to host these types of events throughout this year and next year, and if you would like to know more about what we do, and what grants and workshops are available to farmers please email us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to be added on to the Farm Newsletter mailing list.  You can read the latest newsletter here.

You can see the presentations from the evening here and here, and there is more information available on Mersey Rivers Trusts Farming Hub here.

The first national Big River Watch survey will take place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24

September, organised by The Rivers Trust.

You just need a mobile phone with the free Survey App downloaded and 15 minutes to complete

the survey at your local river. 

People from across the UK will be taking part so we can get a picture of our rivers across the

country. 

Full details inlcuding the Survey App download links can be found on The Rivers Trust website: 

The Big River Watch | The Rivers Trust

We hope as many people as possible will participate across the Mersey catchment. 

If you want to find out more, come along and see us at Mayfield Park next to the River Medlock

in central Manchester on Saturday 23 September between 10am and 2pm.  We will also have

some river craft activities for children.