The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the most substantial piece of EC water legislation to date. It requires all inland and coastal waters to reach "good status" by 2015. It will do this by establishing a river basin district structure within which demanding environmental objectives will be set, including ecological targets for surface waters.

• Defra website 
• WFD Timetable 2000 - 2015
• River Basin Planning Guidance August 2006

There has been a recent tightening of the regulations with regard to outdoor advertising. Go to advisory brochure from the Planning Advisory Service.

Natural England Project Manager Farm Advice for the Yorkshire and the Humber manages a number of farm advice programmes that deliver Defra-funded advice to farmers, advisors and other land managers through a series of seminars, conferences, walks, visits and workshops. These farm advice programmes are:-

Conservation Advice, Environment Sensitive Farming (ESF), Single Payment Scheme Cross Compliance (SPS), Regionally-funded Farm Demonstration Programme, England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI)

• WEBLINK INDEX     
• EVENTS

In the countryside, the effects of climate change are likely to be seen in changes to landscapes and to the broad pattern of animal, plant and human life – a good short straightforward account. This briefing summarises a section of Chapter 5 of the Commission for Rural Communities’ Report State of the Countryside 2006.

This is a summary briefing note from RuSource - the Information Network. RuSource is an Arthur Rank Centre project and is supported by donations and sponsorship.

• Go to RuSource Briefing Note

This document is the summary Report of the CLIO Project and is part of continuing work by European landowners and their associations to inform themselves of threats and opportunitiesarising from climate change. Landowners’ concern is at all levels. Given that emissions are currently tracking the higher range estimates of emissions, based on the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change’s (the IPCC) so-called A1F1 scenario implying a rise in global annual mean temperature of up to 6ºC by 2100, there is concern that the potential impacts are likely to be more severe than has been widely acknowledged. Click here for summary report.

June/July 2006 newsletter

This link takes you to a Defra ADAS soft ware tool which you can download........ 'Your Farm & NVZs' is a simple, user-friendly system to help farmers assess if they comply with the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) Action Programme rules. These rules set various requirements and limits for the application of organic manures and fertiliser nitrogen to land. Details of the rules are given in DEFRA's 'Guidelines for Farmers in NVZs - England' (PB 5505).

For website access and software download click here 

Provided accurate information is entered, 'Your Farm and NVZs' will carry out the necessary calculations, and assess if the farm complies with the Action Programme rules. If you do not comply, you will need to seek further advice.

If you would prefer to order by telephone please call the Action Programme Technical Advice Helpline on 0845 602 3864

Access to the Environment Sensitive Farming Website here with advice on pesticides, soil management, nutrients, manures, Waste Management Regulations England and Wales 2006, diffuse pollution control and events. Click here for home page.

The website is designed to provide information on the activities taking place in your region and details of how you can book a place at forthcoming events. The site also provides technical summaries of the key drivers of diffuse pollution, together with access to presentations that will form part of each event. You can access the specific Yorkshire and Humber events, click here. Alternatively, please call our booking line on 0845 6023864.

The website is designed to provide information on the activities taking place in your region and details of how you can book a place at forthcoming events. The site also provides technical summaries of the key drivers of diffuse pollution, together with access to presentations that will form part of each event.

The website provides Soil Management, Pesticides, Nutrients, Manures and Waste Management with Technical information on these five key topics in the form of word documents or pdf files and PowerPoint presentations

Web pages from Yorlshire Forward setting out the RDA's strategy and vision for support to rural areas in the region ....

"We support investment that promotes structural change in the economy in rural areas.  We concentrate on: ensuring that agricultural activity is fully integrated with wider rural development; delivery of business support; rural ICT for business; the renaissance of market towns; and exploiting the economic potential of environmental assets. We also provide leadership for the development of tourism across the region".

Click here for direct access