The Suffolk Sandlands: Landscape Scale Collaboration
The Sandlands Facilitation Group – building resilient systems for sustainable futures.
Facilitation is the concept of developing cooperation between land managers for the creation of landscape scale habitat schemes where the environmental, ecological and public benefit of the whole is greater than the sum of the individual holdings working separately.
Our goal is to work together to enhance / increase habitat, biodiversity and wildlife on a long term and sustainable basis, across The East Suffolk Sandlands. Improve soil and water health and reduce erosion and pollution.
The three groups, the Sandlands, Felixstowe peninsular and Shotley peninsular includes 60 holdings, some 22,000 hectares from north of the River Alde down to the Stour.
This farmer-led initiative gives its members training opportunities, a support network, the opportunity to deliver wildlife benefits outside of CS and knowledge/resource/labour sharing. It allows members to have close contact with CS officers, DEFRA, partner organisations and opens the door to other funding. As a large group of land managers we have the chance to influence future Countryside Schemes. With this complete ownership, we aim to cooperate, identify challenges, educate and enthuse those that manage this unique landscape.
FWAG promotes integrated landscape scale conservation measures, bringing landowners, farmers and rural business together through collaboration, partnering and networking to achieve sustainable outcomes and economically viable solutions. This involves offering rural business a number of platforms, events and workshops to share knowledge and experience and promote innovation.
