We recently held our 2026 Annual General Meeting, bringing our members, partners, and supporters together for a valuable day of reflection, discussion, and planning. As a farmer-led group in the Upper Wensum catchment, these gatherings are always a highlight of our year — a chance to celebrate what we’ve achieved collectively and strengthen our shared commitment to regenerative farming and landscape-scale environmental improvements.

Since our beginnings in 2015 with a small group of 15 farmers, we’ve grown steadily. Today, our group includes over 30 members managing over 10,000–11,000 hectares across North Norfolk. Our core purpose remains clear: to enhance biodiversity across the landscape while improving water quality in the River Wensum and its surrounding habitats.

A Strong Turnout and Growing Momentum

This year’s AGM saw an excellent turnout, which was wonderful to see. It reflected the strong sense of community and shared purpose within our group. We reviewed the past year’s achievements, updated everyone on ongoing projects, and discussed exciting opportunities ahead. For those who couldn’t join us in person, we’ll be sharing summaries of the meeting, project updates, and impact reports soon — transparency and inclusivity are important to how we work.

The meeting reinforced something we all feel strongly: working together at a landscape scale allows us to deliver far more than we could as individual farms. From habitat creation and pond restoration to productive partnerships with organisations like the Norfolk Rivers Trust, we continue to develop practical, evidence-based solutions on the ground.

Key Highlights from the Past Year

Our members have been actively involved in a range of initiatives that support both productive farming and nature recovery:

• Improving Water Quality: We’ve launched a new way to test our water, working alongside Norfolk Rivers Trust and their CASTCo team, to train our farmers how to accurately test their own water. This is allowing us to implement practical measures such as silt traps, wetlands, and other nature-based solutions to protect our river system.
• Boosting Biodiversity: Our efforts include hedgerow management, support for farmland birds, exploring innovative approaches like biofluorescence in field edges, and restoring “ghost ponds.” A recent group visit to the Norfolk Rivers Trust’s beaver enclosure gave us valuable insights into natural processes that can benefit water quality and habitat diversity.
• Sharing Knowledge and Experiences: We regularly highlight work happening on individual farms — such as at Whitwell Common, Bintry Mill, and Sennowe Estate — to share practical lessons on regenerative practices, soil health, and balancing food production with environmental stewardship.

Feedback from our members continues to inspire us. Many highlight the collaboration, fresh insights, mutual support, and access to projects that would be out of reach for single farms. This cluster model truly makes a difference.

Looking Forward: Farming for a Resilient Future

Our 2026 AGM was not just a review of the past — it was a springboard for the year ahead. We face ongoing challenges including climate pressures, evolving regulations, and the need to maintain viable farm businesses. By continuing to pool resources, share knowledge, and partner with trusts, researchers, and local organisations, we believe we can achieve genuine progress for both nature and farming.

If you’re a farmer within the Wensum Valley and would like to learn more about joining us, or if you’re simply interested in our work on landscape-scale conservation, please visit our website or get in touch via the contact page. We’d love to hear from you.

Together, we’re proving that environmental improvements and successful farming can go hand in hand — delivering benefits for wildlife, water, our communities, and the long-term future of agriculture in our region.

Stay connected with us on social media for regular project updates, member stories, and upcoming events.