3rd November 2009 - Water Resource Management Event
Peterborough
On 3rd November 2009 the Environment Agency hosted an Irrigation Training Event in association with the UK Irrigation Association, Cheviot Futures and Scottish Agricultural College at the Environment Agency offices in Peterborough.
The event was subsidised through LandSkills as part of the Rural Development Programme for England. LandSkills is managed by Lantra on behalf of One North East.
This training built upon a previous irrigation training event, held in Wooler in June 2009. These events were organised to provide Northumberland’s agricultural abstractors with the opportunity to visit Peterborough to see modern irrigation techniques and water storage reservoirs in action. The training was complimented by case studies, site visits and discussions with farmers from three different abstractors groups from the South East of England who were keen to share the benefits of their experience of the pitfalls and the opportunities involved in modern irrigation methods, equipment and scheduling.
The training followed on from the June event in Wooler run by industry specialists, Melvyn Kay from the UK Irrigation Association (UKIA) and Jerry Knox from Cranfield University.
"The climate is changing and farmers need to be finding different ways to do things. It's important that the Environment Agency support this, particularly when parts of the country are using techniques that can benefit others. This is a very cost effective way to reduce environmental damage and better understand our customers."
Peter Kerr, Environment Agency (North East Region) & Cheviot Futures
“There is a wealth of water know how in East Anglia that we are keen to share”
Paul Hammett, NFU Senior Policy Advisor & UKIA Council Member
"Building links between abstractor groups adds momentum to the case for a fair share of the nation’s water resources for agriculture"
Melvyn Kay, Water Management Consultant & UKIA Exec. Secretary
"You may not get the opportunity again to spend a day with people who have this much experience of managing water resources for agriculture. Make the most of it"
Jacqui Murphy, Environment Agency (Team Leader, Environmental Planning Anglian Region)
"An excellent opportunity to identify and share good practice - so much more can be achieved by working together as we aim for sustainable water resources management"
Andy Turner, Environment Agency Water Resources Policy Manager
The programme for the day included the following speakers:
The National Scene - Andy Turner, Water Resources Policy Manager, Environment Agency
A Regional Perspective - Graham Wilson, Strategic Environmental Planning Manager, Anglian Region
Cheviot Futures, Climate Change Adaptation in Northumberland - Harriet Thew, Environment Agency
Working together Melvyn Kay, UK Irrigation Association
Lincoln Water Transfer Ltd Stephen Richardson
Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group Tim Papworth
Working together - an international perspective Paul Trawick Cranfield University
East Suffolk Water Abstractors Group Peter Youngs
In the afternoon we visited two winter storage reservoirs, one in action and one under construction.
If you would like any further information about either of these irrigation events please call or email Harriet Thew Project Officer at the Environment Agency in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Tel: 0191 203 4351
Email: harriet.thew@environment-agency.gov.uk
The training focussed predominantly on the benefits of modern irrigation techniques such as high flow (winter) storage reservoirs, and on sharing best practice with other Water Abstractor Groups for adapting to climate change now by taking action to secure your future water supply.
The training aimed to give attendees:
• An improved understanding and training on how best to take action against future water scarcity and accommodate future climate change.
• New and/or improved understanding and training with regards to using irrigation equipment and tools in the most effective manner.
• New ideas and techniques regarding aspects such as winter storage reservoirs and irrigation taken from practical and technical data delivered directly from industry specialists.
• Links and partnerships can be made with other like-minded farmers who are looking at integrating water resource management in to their current farming system.
For more information please also see www.ukia.org
This training event was organised by Cheviot Futures, Environment Agency, Scottish Agricultural College, Cranfield University and the UK Irrigation Association and is funded by the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee, the Environment Agency and through LandSkills as part of the Rural Development Programme for England. LandSkills is managed by Lantra on behalf of One North East.
Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries, is licensed by the UK government to drive forward the skills, training and business development agenda for the sector.
