Eco-advice charity is in administration (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire branch of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) is in administration

7:00am Friday 13th January 2012 in Farming By Ian Morris

A NATIONAL charity that has for the past 41 years offered environmental advice to the farming community has gone into administration.

The Herefordshire branch of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) had almost 500 members and was one of the largest groups in the country, hosting farm walks and training days.

The county’s four FWAG advisers, Mike Williams, Janet Lomas, Caroline Hanks and Rachel Price-Greenow, provided advice to farmers about the important species and habitats on their farms.

They had become one of the county’s leading sources of advice on grant aid to help fund management to benefit wildlife, the landscape and historic features.

Herefordshire’s important river systems were often central to this advice, and awareness of management for protection of water and soil quality had also become an important part of their work helping farmers.

The Herefordshire FWAG advisers have been led locally by a team of local farmers and land managers chaired by David Curtis.

He put on record his sincere thanks to all past and present members, staff and committee members who have shown such loyalty to Herefordshire FWAG over the years.

“You should all be very proud of what has been achieved for the farmed environment in the county and I am sure that the FWAG philosophy will continue for many years to come,“ he added.

The future use of the FWAG name currently resides in the hands of the administrators and members are now waiting to see if some form of national organisation rises from the ashes.

However, for the time being Mike, Janet and Caroline are continuing their work in the county to provide high quality independent advice.

Farmers and landmanagers are encouraged to contact them for help using their original phone numbers.