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Agriculture and Rural Development |
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Listed
below are some examples of Access to the Countryside work undertaken recently
by Asken. Other work undertaken can be found by clicking on the links below. |
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RIA
of Proposals for Changes to NVZ Rules Defra/Entec In compliance with EC Directives, Defra has to review and, where
necessary, make changes to the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
in England. Various proposals
for new measures are being considered.
As part of this process, a Regulatory Impact Assessment needs to be
completed. Asken is working with
Entec and providing expertise both in agricultural management and RIA work. |
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Evaluation
of Rural Programmes in Wales Welsh
Development Agency/CRG Research Ltd Asken joined a team of economists and rural development
experts to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness, and degree of
integration, of three rural development programmes – Article 33, LEADER+ and
Rural Community Action. Asken
was specifically requested to research the situation in Pembrokeshire and to
look at how the same programmes have been implemented in Scotland and
Ireland. |
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Cranborne
Chase/West Wiltshire Downs AONB Management Plan Wiltshire
County Council/Entec Following the development of a management plan for the AONB,
Wiltshire County Council have appointed Entec, with Asken as sub-contractor,
to help in implementing the plan. Asken’s role was to consider the protocols
covering farm diversification. |
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TIBRE
– Application to a Water Catchment Scottish
Natural Heritage/Entec SNH appointed Entec to explore the feasibility of applying the
TIBRE philosophy in two pilot water catchments. Groups of farmers were recruited in the two pilot
catchments (one in the Loch Lomond catchment, the other in the NE Scotland)
and attempts made to identify possible TIBRE-style projects that they could
apply. |
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Environmental
Assessment of Agricultural Technologies Scottish
Natural Heritage/Entec SNH are concerned that new technologies are promoted to the
agricultural industry without due account being taken of their environmental
impact. Entec and Asken reviewed
alternative approaches to evaluating the impact of new technology and made recommendations
to SNH. |
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Regulatory
Impact Assessment of Proposals for Reform of Common Land Law Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs/University of Wales - Aberystwyth A major project to assess the impacts that new primary
legislation will have on the management of common land and governance of
rights. The RIA comprised a
detailed risks, costs and benefits analysis. Asken worked with other experts in the field, including
University of Wales (Aberystwyth) and University of Gloucestershire. |
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Future
Dairy Industry and Regulatory Activity Environment
Agency/Entec Asken was responsible for the agricultural elements of a research
project for the Environment Agency which looked at possible future
developments within the dairy industry and the implications for the
environment. Asken’s role was to
consider alternative scenarios and advise environmental experts of the
implications. Together, they then
prepared advice to the Environment Agency on what regulations may need to be
applied to control the predicted adverse effects. |
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Visitor
Payback Study Lake
District National Park Authority/British Mountaineering Council BMC members have shown a willingness to make a bigger
contribution to the well-being of the areas they visit. As part of their Integrated Access
Demonstration Project, the LDNPA explored possibilities of social inclusion
and visitor payback. The two
organisations came together and commissioned Asken to run a public meeting at
which ideas were solicited from local interests and visitors, for projects to
pursue. Two ideas emerged from
this meeting and put into practice.
One concerned the provision of opportunities for young people living
in Langdale to go climbing or hill-walking; the other was to examine ways of
bringing visitors to huts and local service providers into closer
contact. |
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Climbing Huts Information Project British Mountaineering Council Ken assisted the BMC to design and implement a project to
equip climbing huts in North Wales with information packs. The packs help promote use of local
services, sustainable transport practices, responsible access and protection/enhancement
of the natural environment. Ken also
helped secure funding from various parties to support the project. |
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Structural
Change in Agriculture |
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Sheep
Flock Management
The prevalence of ectoparasites in the UK sheep flock is
increasing and the products used to treat infestations can pose environmental
risks. Consequently, the Agency was looking to find other strategies
for controlling spread. Asken, working with Lesley Stubbings Sheep
Consultancy, was retained by the Agency to facilitate a seminar to
discuss alternatives. The seminar was attended by representatives of the
sheep producers, agrochemical manufacturers, vets, contractors, auctioneers
and regulatory bodies (MAFF, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Environment
Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency). |
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English
Agriculture: Drivers of Change and Future Scenarios |
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Accident
Investigation |
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Remediation
Plan Severn
Trent Water Ltd/Entec Asken was commissioned to prepare a remediation plan for a
farmer whose land has been affected by the water abstraction activities of
Severn Trent Water. The work
involved assessing historic losses, preparing proposals for remediating the
problems and assessing the costs of remediation. These proposals and estimates then form the basis of an
offer of compensation to the farmer. |
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Integrated Land Management Plan Ministry of Defence (Defence
Estates)/Entec Entec prepared an Integrated Land Management Plan (ILMP) for
the Catterick Training Area, for the MOD. The ILMP brought together and
reconciled conflicting/competing interests in the use of the training areas
to provide a basis for on-going management of the areas. Asken completed the
sections relating to agriculture and public liaison (access) and produced the
final integration documents. |
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Last Update 05/07 |