Author | Lightnews

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Sep 15

This stunning #pond was created earlier this year in Essex. Dug at the edge of an arable field where a natural spring had emerged and beautifully captured last week in this photo!

Funding for pond creation/restoration is still available! See www.fwageast.org.uk/ponds for more details.

📷Adam Scott

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Sep 8

Join us for a free online webinar with Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer from @beavertrust.bsky.social as we explore the return of beavers to the UK landscape!

Learn more about these ecosystem engineers and what their comeback means for farmers.

Register here:
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/834f50...

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Aug 19

From new woodland showing off its survival skills 🌱 to ancient hornbeam coppice ready for revival 🌳. FWAG East offers tailored advice, plans & support for woodland creation & management.

Book a site visit today! 👉 www.fwageast.org.uk/ourservices

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Aug 8

Dragonflies or damselflies?

Read all about Emily Stacey’s walk at Panshanger Park, including the 19 species of dragonfly and damselfly found in the restored quarry-turned-nature haven.

🧭 Learn to spot Hawkers, Darters, Chasers & more!

🔗 www.fwageast.org.uk/post/delving-into-dragonflies

Delving into Dragonflies

On a bright summer morning, Farm Environment Adviser Emily Stacey set off on a dragonfly walk through the Panshanger Nature Reserve, a former sand and gravel quarry just outside of Hertford, guided by...

www.fwageast.org.uk

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Jul 21

This June, we celebrated the incredible career of our much-loved colleague, Elizabeth Ranelagh, as she retires after nearly 30 years with FWAG East.

📖 Read the full tribute here: www.fwageast.org.uk/post/a-summer-celebration-of-wildflowers-and-the-lasting-legacy-of-fwag-east-s-elizabeth-ranelagh

A summer celebration of wildflowers and the lasting legacy of FWAG East’s Elizabeth Ranelagh

This June, FWAG East hosted a joyful summer gathering to celebrate two things close to our hearts: the vibrant beauty of wildflower meadows and a momentous milestone in our history - the retirement of...

www.fwageast.org.uk

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Jul 1

Excited for Groundswell tomorrow! 🌱

Find us at our stand and say hi 👋, or join us for:

🐸 Pond Safari: Wed 3PM & Thu 2PM (FWAG stand)

🎤 Seminar Tent: Thu 3PM — “How Many Chemicals Are Too Many?” w/ ‪@sally-annspence.bsky.social‬, Silver Lapwing winner Andrew Bott & FWAG Southwest’s Adam Lockyear

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Jun 19

🏆 Congratulations to Andrew Bott of Finches Farm in Hertfordshire - the winner of the national Silver Lapwing Award 2025!

Special thanks to our sponsors, Frontier Agriculture and @landapp.bsky.social

www.fwag.org.uk/silver-lapwing

#sustainablefarming #regenerativefarming #farmingwithnature

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Jun 17

A curious find by one of our advisors recently. A Caddis fly larvae case made entirely from pond snail shells!

📷 Jilly McNaughton, FWAG East

#invertebrates #caddisfly #pondsnails #pondlife

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Jun 6

And the 2025 FWAG East Conservation Award Winner is... Humphrey Mills!

Read all about the evening, and our winner, here: www.fwageast.org.uk/post/celebrating-farming-with-nature-fwag-east-conservation-awards-2025

With thanks to our event sponsors, Affinity Water and ‪@ashtonslegal.bsky.social‬.

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · May 19

Last week our members had the incredible opportunity to visit Sandon Manor's 1000-acre rewilding project. However, not every rewilding effort needs to be this expansive to make a difference.

Read more: www.fwageast.org.uk/post/rewilding-and-the-role-of-people-rethinking-our-place-in-the-landscape

Rewilding and the Role of People: Rethinking Our Place in the Landscape

For most of Britain’s ecological history our landscapes were anything but static. They were shaped by the continual movement, disturbance and browsing of large herbivores; megafauna such as aurochs, e...

www.fwageast.org.uk

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · May 8

It's #NationalHedgerowWeek!

While there is no new video from us this year, check out @ukceh.bsky.social's new short film on hedgerow management. Full of tips on what to consider when hedge cutting!

youtu.be/-wtGsvYybjc?...

@thetreecouncil.bsky.social @nffn.bsky.social

Sympathetic hedge cutting - practical tips and insights!

YouTube video by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

youtu.be

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Apr 25

The team had an exciting encounter with a nightingale this week during an evening visit to the BCN Wildlife Trust's Strawberry Hill. An extraordinary site in which the previous owner decided to let nature take over this 150 hectare site 35 years ago.

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Apr 15

Discover your fellow FWAG East members and their incredible contributions to the environment.

This time, we meet the Buxtons from Hertfordshire and learn about their dedication to preserving our natural world. Read more here: www.fwageast.org.uk/post/meet-fellow-members-henrietta-nicholas-buxton

Reposted by FWAG East

Clare Rayner @clareacrayner.bsky.social · Apr 4

Had a great morning checking out swales, scrapes and ponds at Feeringbury Manor - thank you @fwageast.bsky.social

Lots of knowledgeable people and interesting ideas - hopefully will be able to take some forward on our farm!

Shallow scrape at the bottom of a swale - catching sediment and keeping water on the land.

Water in the bottom of a swale - plenty of invertebrates inhabiting here including diving and crawling water beetles

Newly dug pond funded through FWAG’s Great Crested Newt scheme.

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Mar 25

@nffn.bsky.social @thetreecouncil.bsky.social @sustainablefarming.bsky.social

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Mar 25

What is the most fun you can have with a hedge? Bring hedgelaying back into the mix! Find out why in our short video. With thanks to Hedgelife.co.uk

🎥 Jilly McNaughton, FWAG East

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Mar 12

Thank you to everyone who attended our woodland event yesterday! It was a fascinating day discussing the practicalities of restoring/managing woodlands, and the challenges of deer management. With thanks to the Forestry Commission, the Dukes and the Audley End Estate for their support of the event.

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Mar 12

An update on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI):

defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/03/11/a...

An update on the Sustainable Farming Incentive

With record numbers of farm businesses in farming schemes and the sustainable farming budget successfully allocated, we will stop accepting new applications for SFI from today. In this post, we set ou...

defrafarming.blog.gov.uk

Reposted by FWAG East

Countryside Jobs Service @countrysidejobs.bsky.social · Mar 7

CJS Focused Week #NationalCareersWeek. Today we hear from Alice, Farm Environment Advisor from @fwageast.bsky.social. Learn what her role entails and her valuable insights for anyone looking for a rewarding career in conservation and agriculture. c-js.uk/4i3wnJH

A group of people in a meadow listening to someone talk. Text reads: Alice Clark, Farm environment advisor FWAG East

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Mar 6

Dive into the magic of pond restoration with FWAG East's Jilly McNaughton! Watch as Jilly and Andrew transform two ponds, thanks to Affinity Water's 'Rooting for Wildlife' fund.

Enjoy the teaser!

To find out more, and to see the full video: www.fwageast.org.uk/post/walking-the-pond-talk

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FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Mar 3

Hats off to our amazing hedgelaying course attendees! Despite the challenging weather last week, you all did a wonderful job. Huge thanks to Hedgelife for their expertise and to Andrew and Vanessa Gibson for hosting. Special thanks to www.justwilliambutcher.com for the delicious home-reared sausages

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Feb 12

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ Our upcoming events are just around the corner.

Remember FWAG East members benefit from priority, discounted booking for our events & workshops.

Upcoming events: www.fwageast.org.uk/ourevents

FWAG East membership: www.fwageast.org.uk/joinfwageast

FWAG East @fwageast.bsky.social · Feb 7

It's the first day of the @gwct.org.uk's #BigFarmlandBirdCount!

We kicked off with a farm walk this morning, spotting large flocks of finches on AB9 plots and winter cover crops that have seeded. Despite the Baltic conditions, everyone had a good time and enjoyed their well-deserved bacon bap.

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Reposted by FWAG East

Forest Research @forestresearchuk.bsky.social · Jan 30

Woodland creation and management are key to delivering significant environmental benefits, from boosting biodiversity to enhancing ecosystem resilience. 🦉🌿

Learn how improving existing woodlands and creating new ones can maximize their environmental value: www.forestresearch.gov.uk/news/143260-...

New report reviews management and creation of woodland for biodiversity and wider environmental benefits - Forest Research

Forest Research has published a new report which summarises the current evidence on how woodland management and creation affects biodiversity, ecosystem resilience and key environmental benefits.

www.forestresearch.gov.uk

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Reposted by FWAG East

Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · Jan 29

Bats or great-crested newts? "Neither because I want growth" is simply one of the stupidest, immoral and most dismal political answers ever. I'm #teambat #teamnewt #teamhuman #teamhabitableplanet and this story I wrote over the weekend has been cheering me up www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Hope for Britain’s loneliest bat after second species member discovered

Greater mouse-eared bat was declared extinct in the UK but ecologists now believe population recovery is possible

www.theguardian.com

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