Upstream Thinking

13/08/2026

🌱☀️ Herbal leys during drought conditions

With the prolonged dry spells and heatwaves we've been experiencing, our soils have become extremely dry. It's in conditions like these that deep-rooting herbs, such as ribgrass (plantain), really prove their value.

Also known as narrow-leaf plantain, ribgrass is a popular perennial forage herb that works brilliantly alongside sheep's parsley, yarrow, burnet, clover and traditional grass species to:
✅ Increase pasture diversity
✅ Improve grazing quality
✅ Access moisture deeper in the soil during dry periods
✅ Build more resilient, productive swards

You can see it clearly in this field. The shallow-rooted grasses have gone dormant and browned off, while the herbs - and the clover, which is continuing to fix nitrogen - remain green and productive.

The difference is below ground. Grass roots typically explore the top 15–20 cm of soil, whereas ribgrass can develop roots reaching 60–70 cm deep, allowing it to access moisture long after the surface has dried out.

It's a great visual reminder of why diversity in the sward matters. A mix of grasses, herbs and legumes creates more resilient pastures that can continue to perform when the weather throws extremes our way - benefiting livestock, soil health, water infiltration and the wider environment. 🐄🌾

02/07/2026

24/04/2026

As part of the Upstream Thinking Project, we’ve been out in the field sampling soils. Healthy soils play a vital role in reducing both flooding and drought, and we’ve been working closely with farmers to support the improvement and long-term maintenance of soil health.

If you are a landowner or farmer interested in being involved please take a look at the UST article, link below:

https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/upstream-thinking-project/

South West Water Upstream Thinking

14/04/2026

One year on and this leaky dam on Dartmoor has really settled in. The plants and mosses you can see are much more diverse, reducing peat erosion, and holding water back in the landscape.

We've finished up our practical restoration for this year, pausing now for the ground-nesting bird season and to plan works that will start in August again. Thanks to all the contractors, farmers, staff, funders, and volunteers for making a large amount of hydrological restoration happen over this - very wet - winter.

If you're out hiking over Easter, you’ll see where we have blocked erosion and drainage channels using peat and wood. This has created pools of water that importantly help to raise and stabilise the water table within the peat and provide amazing wildlife habitat.

You can see the tracks made by the low ground pressure machinery travelling across the moor during the season. We are working to flatten out these tracks and re-seed areas where appropriate. In places there may be areas of temporary fencing erected to limit disturbance to areas of ground over the coming months.

SWPP is funded by Natural England South West Water Environment Agency National Trust

26/03/2026

Defra have released more news around the Capital Grants which will open for applications this summer. As always we recommend preparing early.

We have experienced, independent advisers ready to help with preparation and completion of applications.
Contact us on 01823 660684 or email [email protected].

18/03/2026

Muck, dung or farmyard manure - it's marvellous stuff!
Full of valuable nutrients, a source of organic matter and food for worms (and other helpful beasties), it's truly brilliant stuff for maintaining and boosting soil fertility and health.

With ever increasing fertiliser prices and concerns about their environmental impact, making the most of muck can help keep crops growing for minimal cost and maximum benefit.
Making the most of your muck heap and reducing fertiliser inputs can help your business mitigate the impact.

If you farm in one of the Upstream Thinking catchments, you can get your muck analysed for nutrients by one of our Farm Advisors.

Contact us at [email protected] to discuss this.

04/03/2026

Peatlands are extraordinary landscapes, out of sight from many of our daily lives, but powerful and vital for life as we know it. Our new film reveals their ...

16/09/2024

One of our Upstream Thinking Ecologists was in the Argal & College reservoir catchment recently, conducting a wildlife survey on a farm.

She was lucky to find some Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pature, a rare and priority habitat across the UK. This habitat is great for wildlife, but also natural flood management, as it loves to store water and make boggy areas.

While surveying she found the insectivorous sundrew plant, which loves acid bogs, mires, heaths, etc. It traps insects on its sticky dew and then engulfs them! This is so it can survive in poor nutrient soils.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust