Update from Garreth Dunstall, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Link to gov.uk press release: UK and Welsh Government unite in £1m fund to transform River Wye

Garreth Dunstall (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, ‘Defra’) provided an update on the UK and Welsh Government joint research initiative to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye, the principal points included:

i.             The new initiative had been announced in March 2025; link to the press release 'UK and Welsh Government unite in £1m fund to transform River Wye'.

ii.            Work would be undertaken with local stakeholders to gather evidence of pollution pressures and to test solutions to inform wider interventions.

iii.          Current focus was on project planning, including research scope and governance structures, to ensure that different tasks and activities were mapped out over time.

iv.          There was an intention to prioritise actions which focus on farm level interventions and to give effect to a ‘living labs’ approach. 

v.           Research decisions would need to demonstrate value and correspond with wider government priorities, including cleaning up waters, boosting food security, and supporting the circular economy.

vi.          Four themes were identified to start discussions with stakeholders (with examples of potential research questions given), the themes being: the impact of existing activities and other technologies; farmer behaviours; barriers and facilitators; and overall strategy.

The Chairperson welcomed the collaborative approach and, with attention drawn to the planned structure identified in the discussion document circulated in Supplement 2, suggested that a blending of Working Group and Steering Group participants (i.e. officials / statutory officers and local stakeholders) would avoid potential tensions between layers.

Board members asked questions and made comments; the main points included:

1.           The research would cover both England and Wales.

2.           The need to understand the impact of legacy phosphorus (P) entering the watercourse, including seasonal variations.

3.           References in the discussion document to ‘ecological carrying capacity of the rivers’ and ‘societal resistance’ were explained.

4.           The data / evidence gaps analysis should be mindful of the range of relevant plans, such as the Catchment Management Plan, Nutrient Management Plan, and the Carbon Management Plan.

5.           Garreth Dunstall confirmed that the research would be funded over a number of years, so that the issues and interventions could be explored fully, involving prioritisation and planned milestones.

6.           Defra would need to co-ordinate with the statutory agencies to ensure that the research was not used as a reason to hold anything up in terms of the Diffuse Water Pollution Plan (DWPP) and related actions.

7.           Martine Quine explained that the Environment Agency was producing the DWPP which would update the English evidence in terms of water quality and would look at what measures or mechanisms were appropriate in order to reduce nutrients; the Wye Catchment Partnership was looking at wider river health.  As the River Wye Special Area of Conservation (SAC) within England was passing its nutrient target, albeit narrowly in places, there was focus on the River Lugg as a significant tributary.  It was commented that, notwithstanding the significant work being undertaken in the catchment, there was likely to be a nutrient gap; it was noted that gaps were not unique in England but there were complex traits in the River Wye catchment.  In response to a question, the board was advised that the DWPP and the work being undertaken on the Welsh evidence would result in a combined evidence base.

8.           Liz Duberley said that projects should have clear timeframes at the outset and should be outcomes based, with quantification of phosphate reduction where relevant to specific projects; adding that this could help to scale up effective interventions in the longer-term.

9.           A view was expressed that previous modelling had not considered elements of global research and there was a need to consider other solutions that were commonplace elsewhere, such as extended buffer zones, with investment made in applied trials.

10.        The need to explore emerging technological solutions.

11.        A request was made that plans should be written in plain and concise language.

12.        James Marsden emphasised on the need for: clarity around funding to deliver the Catchment Management Plan 2025; policy integration, particularly in view of the drivers for the future use and management of land including Carbon Budget, Land Use Framework, and Local Nature Recovery Strategy; and realistic timelines for transformational shift.

13.        The potential benefits of restoring and naturalising flows in the catchment.

14.        The value of informal networks in sharing best practice in the farming sector.

15.        In response to questions, Martin Quine advised that the DWPP would result in some measures where focus was needed currently, potentially with trials at a sub-catchment level which could be replicated elsewhere subsequently, and would identify a ‘wish list’ of measures which could be undertaken but were unfunded.  It was considered that the DWPP would dovetail with the concurrent work on research and development of plans.  It was anticipated that the first draft would be prepared by June 2025.

Garreth Dunstall welcomed the discussion and acknowledged: the need for specific and focused plans, with transparent and actionable outcomes; the need to collate and understand the evidence available, particularly to avoid duplication of effort; the inclusion of the Catchment Management Plan within the research (the Chairperson requested a timeline for this); and the importance of horizon scanning and linking in with government bodies, statutory agencies, and local authorities.

Cat Osborne provided assurance that the Welsh Government was having regular meetings with Defra and was making connections within its teams.

The Chairperson thanked the guest participants for their contributions.