Farmers in the Midlands are being given another opportunity to apply for a grant from Severn Trent, to help protect local watercourses from pollution. The ‘Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme’ (STEPS), which is solely funded by the water company, supports farmers making improvements to their farm management and infrastructure, reducing the risk of pollution from their land into local water courses.
 
Margaret Baile from Severn Trent, commented: "The more work we can do with farmers to reduce pollution from their land, the more we’ll protect local water courses, such as rivers, and the environment.  In turn it'll help us reduce how much we have to treat the water we take from these water courses.”
 
The STEPS grant scheme offers grants of up to a maximum of £5,000 per year, per farm for the next four years. Farms must be located within a Severn Trent priority catchment area.
 
Margaret explains: “This is a great opportunity for farmers to get the financial support they need to make improvements to their farm and land. Funding is available for a range of farm and field improvement works including pesticide handling areas, watercourse fencing, cover crops and much more. Farmers also have the opportunity to propose their own ideas in a unique ‘Farmer Innovation’ option."
 
The window for grant applications for 2016/17 closes on 18th March 2016. For more information on STEPS funding and to contact your local Severn Trent Water Agricultural Adviser visit http://www.stwater.co.uk/catchment.