Wilder Lugg Project Officer

We are looking for a Wilder Lugg Project Officer to deliver an exciting project focused on the
upper River Lugg area within Radnorshire. The successful candidate will be expected to identify
areas along the upper River Lugg for mitigation and restoration, principally through riparian
buffering (wetlands, uncultivated strips, and riverside tree planting), water monitoring to
identify problems and opportunities and natural flood management measures, such as leaky dams,
scrapes, and pools.

They will also be working to support the farming community who own land within the river
corridor to position themselves for the incoming Sustainable Farming Scheme, the changing
economics of land management and food production and the demands of climate change.

Programme overview

This project will identify areas along the upper River Lugg within Radnorshire for mitigation
and restoration, principally through riparian buffering (wetlands, uncultivated strips, and
riverside tree planting), water monitoring to identify problems and opportunities and natural
flood management measures, such as leaky dams, scrapes, and pools. 

We shall be working to help the farming community who own land within the river corridor to
position themselves for the incoming Sustainable Farming Scheme, the changing economics of land
management and food production and the demands of climate change. 

We are working in partnership with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust who also have funding for work
on the Lugg catchment.

There are three key outcomes:

1. We want to win a commitment from the farming community to RWT’s Wilder Lugg Vision,
   demonstrated by a change in people’s land management toward that goal.
2. We aim to embed farm advice, focused on rivers and water, within RWT, proving the need for
   this advice and building a business model that sustains funding through both longer-term
   programmed and directly chargeable work. The aim is to scale this up from the Lugg catchment,
   across Radnorshire. 
3. A practical and necessary outcome of this work will be an application for a larger
   cross-border funding bid towards the end of 2024, working closely with Herefordshire Wildlife
   Trust. This will form part of our shared ‘Wilder Marches’ landscape vision and deliver against
   significant shared targets.

The principle thrust of this programme is to ensure that people see the river as an asset and
seek to undertake work to diversify bankside vegetation and habitats, buffer against the
channel to reduce sediment and run-off and ensure the floodplain is functioning to hold back as
much water as possible. Doing this will secure an increase in species such as white-clawed
crayfish and water crowfoot and ensure the river flourishes as climate changes.

The project has been funded from multiple sources and has a small capital fund, in addition to
the revenue budget. 

Purpose of the job

The successful candidate will work with the Head of Conservation and the wider conservation
team to successfully deliver the Wilder Lugg programme.

You will consider the impact of climate change on the river Lugg and how land management
practices can be used to help mitigate increased flooding, pollution, and other climate driven
issues. You will provide practical advice direct to farmers and landowners, including support
for applications for grant funding and implementing nature-based solutions. You will work with
groups of landowners to facilitate workshops and training events.

You will work with and enthuse local communities, creating a community-led series of Wilder
Lugg action days and forming action networks. This will include an expansion of our citizen
science work in the catchment.

You will need to be aware of the business and legislative implications of the advice you give.
You will need to be aware of current UK legislation, including SSAFO Regulations, Farming Rules
for Water, rules for farming in NVZs and Cross Compliance. Clients may include farmers,
growers, landowners, and other agricultural businesses.

As a land advisor, you may be required to provide specialist advice on:

• environment and conservation
• regenerative agriculture
• sustainable agricultural practices
• grazing and livestock management
• nutrient management plans
• yard infrastructure
• waste management
• nature-based solutions

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]