THE Worcestershrie Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) has come a long way since that first meeting in 1981 in the library at the ADAS offices at Worcester, when Stan Wyatt came to explain how a county group could help local farmers' efforts in wildlife conservation.

The first on-farm advice and plans for conservation work were undertaken ad hoc by advisers and wildlife enthusiasts. It was some years before the services of a professional adviser could be obtained part-time.

Now, 20 years on, Worcestershire FWAG held its AGM at the county Young Farmers' HQ at Shires Farm, Hawford.

Chairman Dan Houseago, who had proved a tremendously effective FWAG adviser for Worcestershire before he moved on to work for the National Trust, was able to announce that two well-qualified county FWAG advisers had been appointed.

He introduced Rob Havard who hails from Phepson Farm, near Crowle, farmed by his family since 1919. Rob is a graduate of Reading University and worked for an ADAS regional team before working on wildlife conservation in Herefordshire.

"Our other new adviser could not come to our AGM," explained Mr Houseago. "She is on holiday in the Far East, having booked months ago, before our job came up. Becky Floate has a degree in conservation and environmental sciences.

"Following the departures of Julie Dadson to Yorkshire and Bruce Fowkes to New Zealand, we are very fortunate to have secured the services of Rob and Becky.

"FWAG will have an important task in helping farmers adjust to their new role as custodians of the countryside as well as food producers. In the past our work focused on conservation in the agricultural environment. This goes on, but farmers will now also be looking for guidance in the cross-compliance requirement to safeguard the environment, so enabling them to qualify for the Single Farm Payment (SFP), instead of the production subsidies.

"We need not wait before helping with this advice until the SFP officially starts in the New Year, because we already have details of 98 per cent of what is entailed." Pat Barber of Defra, who is involved with the SFP, said.

Mr Havard said: "We have new up-and-coming projects on hand. Work with the Environment Agency focuses on otters and fish stocks in the Severn and Teme rivers complex.

"More plentiful fish would bring more otters. Engineering works such with groynes on the rivers will aim to improve fish stocks.

"The EU has still to approve details of the new agri-environment schemes, but awareness of what lies ahead will be important. We will lay on workshops for farmers, catering for around 20 at each session."

Rob Grinnell of Clay Farm, Clows Top, was presented with the Conservation Corner Award, sponsored by Parks Farm Nurseries.

A moving account of the efforts of the Farmers Overseas Action Group (FOAG) to bring relief and constructive help to communities in Uganda was given by guest speaker Malcolm Rankin.

"When we come face-to-face with people in severe trouble, we have a lot in common: a desire to change things for the better and the will to go and do something positive," he said.

"This led to the determination of some farming families in this county to do something for the devastated people in Uganda. So FOAG got going.

"David Harper and I made the first visit to Uganda in 1984. We wanted our aid to be hands-on, meeting the people needing help and providing practical improvements for them. FOAG has been able to install water storage facilities for schools and hospitals, as well as village groups.

"Every year at least two from FOAG go to Uganda to be involved with the work. We also raise more than £50,000 for aid in that devastated country, but sending money is much less effective than personal involvement.

''The work of FOAG and its links with Ugandans are now helped by donations from up and down the country as well as here in Worcestershire, and for this we are very grateful."

Dolly leads the congregation

POOPER scoopers instead of prayer mats and dog leads instead of dog collars - it was certainly a church service with a difference at Pershore last Sunday.

And hitting the top note of the day was not some boy soprano in the choir, but Dolly the hound.

Howling to the skies, she joined in with all the hymns and finally let rip with a canine version of Land of Hope and Glory.

For the 500 or so hunting and shooting supporters present, it was that sort of day - showing their defiance for what they see as prejudiced legislation currently going through Parliament to ban hunting with dogs.

In an effort to raise the spiritual temperature, they have formed their own church.

The Free Church of Country Sports organised the service, a Blessing of Hounds, at the home of Dick and Penny Plath at Avon Bank, next to Pershore Horticultural College.

"The hunting community considers itself a minority group and, as such, will be writing to the Commission for Racial Equality to make a complaint against the hunting ban," said Mrs Plath.

It was just one more example of how many legs the whole hunting debate is likely to grow and what a gravy train it could be for the lawyers.

Talking about legs, this must have been the first church service when half the congregation had four.

There were foxhounds from the Croome and West Warwickshire, basset hounds from the Leadon Vale, the Warwickshire Beagles and the Three Counties Mink Hounds. Plus any amount of sporting spaniels, family Labradors and hairy terriers.

It was all in recognition of the feast day of St Hubert, the patron saint of hunting, and as hymn sheets were handed round, Worcestershire's hunting fireman Michael Keel, from Himbleton, led the assembled company through old favourites like Jerusalem and He Who Would Valiant Be.

Giving the address, Mrs Plath said: "One of my ancestors was Judge John Bradshaw, who presided over the trial of King Charles I.

"His epitaph was 'Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. The moral obligation of democratic governments is to protect minority interests'."

With her howl, Dolly was definitely in a minority.