Great news for farmers, woodland owners, foresters and land managers looking for financial support for environmental projects. Defra has just revealed it‘s now offering a bigger range of capital items under its Countryside Stewardship Scheme and some of these items we can help with. Our products are covered by the scheme As part of this

What is causing drainage and flooding issues on farms?
Large areas of farmland were once again left underwater in January as swollen rivers and watercourses burst their banks, highlighting the impact that flooding and poor drainage can have on UK farms. But what is causing it to happen and what can farmers do to prevent it? Here are some of the main causes: Climate

Guide to maintaining drainage ditches on farms
Having a good ditch maintenance strategy is vital to help prevent future flooding problems on farmland whilst also protecting wildlife. Here is our guide to maintain ditches: Why are ditches important? Ditches play an important role on farms as part of its drainage network. Land drainage systems are designed to flow into these watercourses and

Guide to maintaining a land drain system in the winter
The start and end of the year generally tend to be the wettest months but it’s also the ideal time to undertake some general maintenance of your land drains and watercourses to make sure they are working properly. Here are our top tips: Check your ditches Ditches play a vital role on farms in managing

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
New year, new start! Let’s face it we were all glad to see the back of 2020. Things are looking brighter though and with the start of a new year, we asked the team at Cotterills what their own goals and resolutions are for 2021 in the hope it might give you some inspiration too!

New Septic Tank Regulation – One Year On
It’s now one year on since the new septic regulations came into force at the start of 2020 and those not up to standard are facing significant fines from the environment agency (EA). If you’ve already ensured you are compliant, then brilliant! But if you’ve not done anything about it yet, you need to make

An Insight into the Future of Farming
With Brexit done and the Agriculture Bill now passed, it is clear that the farming sector is set for real change in the coming years. But what might that look like? The challenge ahead With the global population predicted to exceed 9 billion by 2050 of which a third are expected to live in urban

Beginner’s guide to geogrids
If you’re looking for an effective way to reinforce soil or grass, then geogrids could be the answer. Here’s a useful guide to what they are and how they work. What are geogrids? A geogrid is a geosynthetic material used to stabilize soil. Geogrids are a material which is formed in a grid-like structure. Geogrids

Guide to selecting the size and type of sewage treatment plant
If your property is unable to connect to the mains sewerage infrastructure, a sewage treatment plant is an ideal choice. It is considered the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly “off mains” drainage option. When it comes to selecting the size and type of the sewage treatment plant though there are a number of things to

Why it’s important to celebrate World Soil Day?
We’ve heard lots in the press about the damaging effect of plastic waste on our oceans or the impact of deforestation but what about soil? Soil is our life support system – it provides anchorage for roots, holds water and nutrients but sadly it’s also under threat. With a background in farming, we know too