Minimising Sediment runoff into Wensum and North Rivers catchments

River Wensum Catchment (2) CSFO: Stephen Haley

B1155 Docking River Wensum Catchment Area B1355 NORFOLK Railway with station B1105

Syderstone Kettlestone 50-100m B1454 Sculthorpe 0-50m A148 B1153 Height above sea level Farm Description B1149 in metres FAKENHAM East Stibbard R Great Ryburgh The tributaries, drains and roads lacing arable Rudham W e n A1065 B1146 s um Foulsham Cawston B1110 holding Church Farm in Norfolk all connect Great Massingham Reepham North B1145 Elmham to the Wensum and Rivers B1145 ensum Catchment. The Wensum, designated SSSI, is R W B1147 Lyng A1067 in ‘largely unfavourable’ condition because A47 Taverham Drayton B1150 A1151 d Honingham Tu of high levels of suspended solids in the river Scarning R A1074 e A1042 Yar largely sourced from agriculture. The CSFO R A1075 B1135 A47 advised the farmer Anthony Seaman - already A11 0 10km proactively reducing run-off through better soil Based upon Ordnance Survey material on behalf of HMSO. cCrown copyright and database right 2013. All rights reserved. A140 management– on how to further reduce the Natural OS licence number 100022021 risk of pollution entering the rivers. The farm has an ELS agreement. 2. As part of the farmer’s ELS Soil Management Plan he had already begun the process Pollution Problems of analysing soil erosion and run-off from The soil composition on the farm accentuated each of his fields. From these results Dougal the risk of run-off; the sandy loam to sandy advised on the need to sow winter cereals clay loam soil was well drained and aerated, early to maximize crop cover before winter but it was prone to drying out and needed lots rains, and the need to avoid fine seedbeds. of inputs. The farm also had poor Soil Organic He suggested sub-soiling to reduce the Matter levels which made the topsoil unstable. soil compaction caused when the farmer Run-off had occasionally caused problems on harvested his root crops. a main road. 3. As part of his recent HLS application the farmer has also decided to suspend cropping in parts of his fields most at risk of run-off. Dougal Pollution Solutions advised on the advantages of establishing 1. In an effort to increase soil organic matter tramlines across a slope when sowing. and improve the stability of the top soil Dougal and a Soil Organic Matter contract advisor suggested retaining crop residues Farmer Engagement and Motivation and applying manures. The farmer now uses The farmer was aware of CSF and approached poultry manure in the crop rotation. the CSFO for advice. He was familiar with, and in some cases already practicing CSF. Aerial view of farm showing sediment sources and potential pathways to the waterbody

Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) Stephen Haley Natural England, Norwich 0300 060 0667/07917 722154 [email protected]

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) is delivered in partnership by Natural Funding is from the European Agricultural England, the Environment Fund for Rural Development: Europe Agency and Defra. investing in rural areas.