Dow AgroSciences

Working in partnership

FWAG has been working in partnership with Dow AgroSciences on their stand at the national Cereals show since 2005.  FWAG advises on the layout and management of the conservation plots which have an Entry Level Stewardship theme, works with Dow on information leaflets for the show and attends the stand to deal with queries from visitors.

FWAG have also been working with Dow AgroSciences at their Field Station in Oxfordshire.  Whilst the primary objective of the site is to carry out crop trials work, it is also managed with visible commitment to conservation and the environment.  Since Dow acquired the bare arable site in 1986, several habitats have been established, including hundreds of metres of hedgerows and windbreaks, an apple orchard of 1000 trees, a reservoir and ponds, and a rough grassland area.  Since FWAG’s first visit, further habitats including a small traditional orchard with a wildflower sward, a new pond, and windbreaks of native trees have been established.

Together, FWAG and Dow staff have put together an Entry Level Stewardship application for the site. A conservation action plan to further enhance the diversity of the site has been drawn up, and FWAG has enabled a monitoring programme to take place.  Volunteers from partner organisations will be monitoring birds, butterflies and bats on the farm, and further species monitoring is planned.

For further information on FWAG's partnership with Dow AgroSciences please contact Jim Egan, email jim.egan@fwag.org.uk, tel 01636 819056 or for general information on Dow please visit their website at:  http://www.dowagro.com/uk/index.htm