GRANTS of up to £4,000 are being offered for projects that will benefit water quality in the upper reaches of the River Exe catchment.

A total of £250,000 is available in grant funding from Exmoor National Park Authority and South West Water between now and 2020 as part of the Headwaters of the Exe project.

Grants are available for work such as improvements in yard infrastructure or the provision of alternative water supplies to enable farmers to keep livestock away from watercourses at key times of year.

For instance, £37.20 is available per square metre for covering manure stores, £16.28 per square metre for renewed concrete yards, or £66 for each new livestock drinking trough.

The Headwaters of the Exe project is offered in partnership with organisations including the Exmoor Hill Farming Network and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West. It forms part of South West Water’s Upstream Thinking programme.

Project manager Bea Davis said applicants would receive advisory visit.

Those interested should contact Adam Lockyear, lead farm advisor for the Headwaters of the Exe project, on 01823 660684 or at adam.lockyear@fwagsw. org.uk.

Further information is also available on the Exmoor National Park headwaters’ website or Bea Davis [email protected] or 01398 322278.