Job Profile: Farm Environment Advisor

Name: Alice Clark

Employer: FWAG East

Location: Based in Cambridgeshire, but I also cover Hertfordshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire

 

“FWAG East is run by an experienced team of Farm Environment Advisers who are passionate about supporting farmers in caring for the environmental assets on their land and helping them secure a sustainable and profitable farming future.

Serving the counties of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, FWAG East provides independent, expert advice tailored to your needs and aimed at bringing financial and environmental benefits to your business.

FWAG (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group) was first established as a charity in the 1960s by a group of forward-thinking farmers who saw that the environment was an important part of a successful farming business. FWAG East continues to share this vision today. As our industry moves towards a more regenerative agriculture, we know it is possible to run profitable farm businesses while conserving wildlife, ecosystem services and valuable farm resources, such as soil, carbon and water.

We are a respected voice in the industry and sit on DEFRA's agri-environment stakeholder group. We are often called upon by policy makers to articulate the farmers' perspective on environmental issues, helping to shape future decision making.” 

 

Job Responsibilities:

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Providing environmental advice: Offering independent, objective, and professional advice on land-related environmental matters to farmers, landowners, and land managers.
• Farm visits: Conducting one-to-one farm visits to deliver tailored advice on agroecological practices, environmental management, and pollution mitigation.
• Habitat and species conservation: Advising on habitat and species conservation, including the protection of archaeological features and delivering landscape scale networks.
• Report preparation: Preparing detailed reports and recommendations based on farm visits and environmental assessments.
• Project management: Contributing to the delivery and outputs of existing projects and potentially managing new projects with support from managers and colleagues, including facilitating farm clusters.
• Workshops and events: Organising and delivering workshops, events, and training sessions to educate and support farmers in sustainable practices.
• Networking and partnerships: Building and maintaining partnerships with other organisations and stakeholders to enhance the impact of environmental initiatives.

Majority of time is spent doing: A mix of one-to-one visits on farm to give advice on agri-environment schemes and practical habitat management advice, and in-office work undertaking paperwork either in terms of applications for client’s agri-environment schemes, habitat mapping, environmental reports or other funding paperwork. We are also involved in the facilitation of several farmer clusters and provide ongoing support for them. Additionally, there are events throughout the year, both held by FWAG East and other partners.

There is a fairly even divide between indoor and outdoor work, depending on the current projects in progress and the time of year. There are not necessarily ‘quiet’ periods anymore due to changes in the application process for agri-environment schemes (the new schemes are moving away from set deadline and towards rolling application windows), however during harvest will generally be more office based as all the farmers are busy.

 

Qualifications needed:

I have a BSc (hons) and MSc in Wildlife Conservation. I also have a background in farming and some experience in ecological consultancy. An academic background or a background in agriculture and ecology is not necessarily essential. A genuine interest in the environment and a willingness to learn can also be a good starting point, further bolstered with volunteering or seasonal work.

Additional training: BASIS - Certificate in Sustainable Land Management is useful, as are other BASIS qualifications.

Skills needed: Some of the key skills needed for the role include:

• Communication skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills to clearly convey complex information to farmers, landowners, and stakeholders.
• Technical knowledge: Understanding of agroecology, soil science, water management, habitat management and conservation, and relevant agricultural practices.
• Interpersonal skills: Building trust and rapport with clients, collaborating with various organisations, and working as part of a team.
• Project management skills: Managing projects, from planning to implementation and monitoring, including time management and organisational skills.
• Problem-solving skills: Identifying potential issues and developing solutions to address environmental challenges.
• IT skills: Proficiency in using software for data analysis, mapping (GIS, LandApp), report writing, and presentations.

 

Advice to anyone looking at similar roles:

Build a strong educational foundation if you can. There are a wide range of relevant courses in environmental sciences, ecology, agriculture, or land management. Do not doubt the benefit of practical experience. There are a range of opportunities out there, including internships, volunteer opportunities, or entry-level positions in farming, land management, or environmental organisations. Hands-on experience is invaluable in learning how the technical knowledge can be applied in a day-to-day setting and helps increases awareness of some of the issues involved in implementing that knowledge. Make sure you keep up with the latest developments in environmental regulations, sustainable farming practices, and conservation techniques. Particularly at the moment things are changing quite rapidly in certain areas and there is a lot of uncertainty, so understanding what is happening is vital. Prospective advisors can also work on building their analytical, communication, and project management skills. These can be applied to most roles, even if you decide to go down a completely different route at some point. Where possible, build connections with professionals in the industry. Networking can often lead to job opportunities or collaborations. Finally, demonstrate your genuine interest in environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture.

 

If you have any queries about this role or would like to ask a question of the job holder please contact CJS by email.