Farming and rural communities

Farmers and rural communities play a crucial role in South Gloucestershire, from producing food to managing land, habitats and local employment.

We work with partners to provide practical, long-term support that strengthens farming communities and benefits the area.

What we are doing

Partnership working

We work with partners including the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Farming and Advisory Wildlife Group South West (FWAG), West of England Rural Network (WERN), Forest of Avon, Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, local wildlife trusts and community energy groups.

Projects where we are working with landowners, farmers, farm cluster groups and other partners include The Resilient Frome, Linking the Levels, and Hawkesbury and Inglestone Commons.

Strengthening local food networks

Buying local supports jobs, reduces the distance that food is transported from source to plate, and builds community wellbeing. We work with partners to make local food easier to find and choose for residents and businesses.

We co-ordinate the South Gloucestershire Food Partnership which is a network of 70+ members, including producers promoting local food, farmers, growers and businesses.

The partnership has produced a Food system map  of local suppliers, businesses and food organisations.

The partnership has also produced a Food Across South Gloucestershire Report of information, evidence and insights on what is happening locally around food in South Gloucestershire, and what could be improved.

The Food Partnership has joined the Sustainable Food Places network and is preparing a Sustainable Food Places Action Plan which will be published in 2026.

As part of this work our support your local high street campaign encourages residents and visitors to shop local and find out about events in our market town high streets.

Supporting the Cotswold Farm Cluster Group

We work with existing and new farm cluster groups which support and bring farmers together to share knowledge and access expert advice.

For example, the Cotswold Farm Cluster Group has:

  • 68 landowners involved so far, 32 from South Gloucestershire
  • held events on natural flood management, farmland birds, biodiversity net gain, soils, regenerative grazing and green finance
  • secured Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding to support coordination and events in 2025/26

Public rights of way

We are responsible for 783 miles (1257 km) of  Public rights of way across South Gloucestershire, working closely with landowners and communities.

Tackling rural crime

We work with partners and communities to tackle rural crime, including agricultural theft, fly tipping, wildlife crime, fly grazing, and antisocial behaviour.

Our Environmental Enforcement team work proactively on preventing and investigating reports of environmental crime which are reported to us. This includes working with the police Rural Crime Team | Avon and Somerset Police.

We hold Your Voice  community engagement meetings across our area which include opportunities to speak with partner organisations including the police.

Our wider work with rural communities, farmers, land managers and partners aims to prevent crime and makes it easier to report issues and get support.

Contact communitysafetyteam@southglos.gov.uk

Get involved and access support

There are ways to get connected, find advice and make the most of the support available including:

Contact

If your enquiry relates to:


For any other general enquiries find out how to contact the council.

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