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County update

The Hereford and Kington branch is hosting a farm walk at Moorcourt fruit, Lyonshall, HR5 3JZ, on Wednesday 16 July from 3pm. The afternoon will include a tour of the fruit production, including strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, followed by a Ploughman’s. Numbers are limited so please confirm your attendance by emailing the office at [email protected] ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Changes to national policy in December 2024 has resulted in a significant uplift in the growth targets for the county, with Herefordshire having a mandatory housing target of 27,260 new homes in the next 20 years. As a result, the Council has had to return to the plan-making process to devise a new strategy that can accommodate this increased level of growth. A new ‘call for sites’ has been launched, this time using an online submission form, which can be accessed . Due to the huge increase in housing numbers, the Council must give consideration to all available options. This includes any assemblies of land with potential to accommodate a new settlement. Please note, the Council are asking those who have previously submitted land to re-submit it in order to supply the additional information now required.

Environment Agency - SpraylineÌý

An information service for abstractors in the River Wye catchment.Ìý

It applies to abstractions from rivers, streams, springs, ponds, lakes and reservoirs within the catchment of the River Wye and its tributaries.

Call: 0870 905 6061

Sprayline tells you what the flow in the river is and whether any restrictions will be imposed on your spray irrigation licence.Ìý

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Farm for the Future – Royal Countryside Fund

Do you want help navigating agricultural policy changes including help with understanding ELMs and SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive)?

If you’re an owner-occupied or tenant farm in England that received BPS, The Royal Countryside Fund’s Farm for the Future programme is in its final year, offering a last chance for free support which includes a 1-2-1 session with a consultant to talk about your farm.

Its online workshops can be joined from the comfort of your own home via Zoom to help you and your farm business navigate policy changes and become more resilient and sustainable.

To find out more and sign up to the online group, contact Christina Hutchings via email [email protected] or call 07715 353 546 or visit

West Mercia Police online survey

West Mercia Police are inviting you to take part in a short online survey to tell us how we’re doing and where we can do better.

• How visible are your local officers?
• Do you feel engaged and heard?
• How do you find out what we’re doing?
• Do we understand the issues in your area?
• How confident are you with policing in your area

This survey gives you the chance to help us understand what we’re doing well – and just as importantly, where we might need to improve.

The survey takes approx. 10 minutes to complete.

To complete the survey please click Ìý

Please share this with friends, family, and neighbours – the more voices we hear, the better we can serve you.

Farmer perceptions of police resourcing and training in response to farm crime.

Andrew Corner is a PhD student at Harper Adams University studying the relationship between police and farmers within England and Wales.

As part of the study, he is asking farmers to take part in an online survey which you can view . If you would like to take part, please do so before 1 July 2025.

Are there differences in colostrum quality between UK dairy breeds

Megan Edwards is in her final year as a master’s student at Aberystwyth University.

As part of her end of year dissertation, she is investigating the following title: Are there differences in colostrum quality between UK dairy breeds?

In order to obtain research for this title, she is naturally trying to collect data representing a wide range of dairy breeds from across the UK.

If you would like to take part in the research, please click (completion takes around 15 minutes)