Working with Water: Supporting Norfolk’s farming future

Water is fundamental to farming, but managing it is not always straightforward. From periods of drought to the risk of flooding, how water moves through the landscape can have a lasting impact on farm businesses, wildlife and the wider countryside.

That’s why the Clan Trust supports The Royal Countryside Fund (RCF), a UK-wide charity working alongside farming families and rural communities to help them thrive. One of the ways that the RCF has been supporting farming families and the environment is through its Working with Water programme.

Since it began in 2025 the programme has been helping farmers and landowners across Norfolk explore practical ways to manage water and build greater resilience for the future, in collaboration with a range of local partners and experts.

The RCF organised five free workshops for 102 farmers, landowners and other attendees came together to learn about low-cost, nature-based measures that could support both their farm businesses and the environment.

Farm walks and expert talks explored practical ways to build drought resilience, boost biodiversity and reduce the risk and impact of flooding. But the workshops were also about bringing people together, giving local farmers the opportunity to share experiences, discuss ideas and learn from one another.

For Norfolk farmer Annabel, taking part prompted new conversations and ideas for her own farm.

“It was interesting to hear how the project came about and how they looked at historical maps. We have since looked at our own farm to see if we have any ghost ponds,” she said.

“The social aspect is always useful because you never know who you’re going to talk to, and small ideas can be really helpful.”

She added that the programme provided information that farmers may not ordinarily encounter and highlighted the support and ideas already available.

Working with Water is part of the RCF’s wider work alongside farming families and rural communities across the UK. To date, the charity has supported more than 5,700 farming families and invested more than £12.7 million in over 550 rural community-led projects.

For the Clan Trust, supporting initiatives like this is about helping rural communities access knowledge, opportunities and connections that can make a meaningful difference.

By bringing farmers together with experts and each other, Working with Water is helping to start conversations and share practical ideas that can support more resilient farms, landscapes and rural communities for generations to come.