The Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF) is a Rivers Trust that improves the ecology, habitat and water quality of the Rivers Wye and Usk. From Autumn 2025 to Spring 2026 they ran the Wye-P on Arrow project, to deliver the aims of the Environment Agency in the Arrow Catchment.
The project demonstrates the importance of building and maintaining relationships with farmers, landowners, contractors and other organisations across the catchment.
Specifically, the project aimed to:
- Improve water quality
- Reduce diffuse pollution
- Build organic matter, soil health, structure and retention through better regenerative farming practices
- Contribute to increased biodiversity and wildlife
WUF advisors headed out on farm visits to advise on and plan interventions on farm which could deliver the aims of the project. Working closely with farmers, landowners and contractors they are pleased to report that the project was brilliantly delivered on budget and on time.
In the attached image, sinuous pools were created through this project. Previously water from the farm yard was piped directly into a brook, this brought effluent and point pollution directly from the yard to the brook. The pools now allow that water to slow down, dropping sediment and suspended pollutants. It has also created wetland and riparian habitats which will continue to develop in time, with the farmer planning a woodland creation project in the surrounding area, further adding to the biodiversity richness and value of the site.
There is an arable field up a slope from the pool area, this has been buffered with a new fenceline and native hedgerow, which will aid water infiltration and filtration, and also add further habitat niches into this landscape.
Their advisors have also worked with the farmer to introduce a herbal ley into their arable rotation, this will help to improve soil structure, restore natural fertility and soil health and to reduce soil loss.
They faced a very tight timescale, with only 6 months to deliver 6 individual projects on different sites and at the most challenging time of year, from September to March through a very wet winter, when much of this work should ideally have been carried out in the summer with drier ground conditions.
Without existing knowledge and relationships in the catchment it would have been impossible to deliver the project as there was not sufficient time to cold call and scope projects.
When delivering this type of on-farm project, WUF recommend ensuring sure that you have sufficient contingency (financial and time) built in to allow for changeable weather, contractor availability and anything else that might crop up.
The scheme was funded through the Water Environment Improvement programme (WEIF) administered by the Environment Agency with match funding from Wye & Usk Supply chain Supported Soil Improvements (WUSSI) and Wye Agri Supply Chain (WASP)
They hope to bid for future funding, and note that revenue as well as capital funding will be needed to cover the work of the advisors.
Find out more about the project at Wye-P on Arrow project – The Wye & Usk Foundation
