THE national Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group is launching FWAG Farm Walk Week Initiative 2003 Improving Biodiversity on Farmland on a North Cotswold farm.

The launch at Guiting Manor Farms, Guiting Power, on Tuesday, June 3, will be attended by FWAG chairman Christopher Bourne-Arton, chief executive James Money-Kyrle and Rosie Carne, marketing manager of sponsors Hydro Agri.

FWAG Farm Walk Week Initiative aims to encourage members of the public to join a farm walk organised by their local FWAG group on a supporter's farm to demonstrate how the integration of commercial agriculture with the retention and creation of wildlife features on the farm is being successfully practised by one of the thousands of farmers who have received FWAG advice.

The walks are being organised on various dates throughout the summer months and a full list is available on the FWAG website www.fwag.org.uk or by calling Jane Hampson on 024 7669 8702.

She said: "Each participant will receive a leaflet giving advice on how improvements to biodiversity on farmland can be achieved, together with information about the work of FWAG and details of how to become a member."

Guiting Manor Farms, managed by Nicholas Bumford, was the 1996 winner of the Farmcare/FWAG Silver Lapwing Award.

It is the country's most prestigious award for conservation achievements on farm.