Traditionally, farm productivity is measured by one main metric: food output. But farmers are land managers, and the value farming land brings to society is far more than what grows on it, particularly regarding water management; we just need to redefine what it is to be productive.
By implementing NBS such as beaver re-introduction, agro-forestry, and habitat restoration, farms like the Spains Hall Estate can slow down water movement, alleviate flood risk downstream, store water through dry summers, clean it as it travels through the landscape, and restore valuable habitats at the same time. Such benefits are essential for the sustainable management of our water supplies, but for their value to be recognised, we need to redefine what it is to be productive. Spains Hall Estate is proving that worth. Their partnership with local water utilities and government agencies demonstrates how organisations can work together to create nature-based solutions that benefit people and the planet and can also become profitable.
