Project overview
The Holistic Water for Horticulture (HWH) project supports growers across the South East to strengthen water resilience in one of the UK’s most water-stressed regions.
Reliable access to water is essential for horticulture. Yet increasing pressure from climate change, more extreme weather and evolving water management approaches is making this more challenging.
By working collaboratively with growers and partners, HWH helps build resilient farming businesses and supply chains, protects the wider environment, and supports a secure supply of home-grown fresh produce.
Our approach
HWH works closely with a wide range of growers — including soft fruit, top fruit, glasshouse and viticulture businesses — tailoring solutions to the specific needs of each system.
We take a whole-farm, systems-based approach to water resilience, exploring opportunities such as:
- Improving irrigation self-sufficiency through rainwater harvesting, water trading and on-farm storage
- Designing nature-based solutions including wetlands, ponds and runoff management features
- Enhancing water efficiency while delivering wider environmental benefits
By understanding water availability, land characteristics, current practices and future pressures together, we help identify practical, sustainable solutions that work for each farm.
Polytunnel in a field of meadow flowers © South East Rivers Trust
Working together for water resilience
Collaboration sits at the heart of the project. HWH encourages growers to work collectively — strengthening their voice in regional water resource planning and increasing their ability to respond to shared challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.
This collective approach helps create long-term water security for horticultural production across the South East.
Partnership working as part of Holistic Water for Horticulture © South East Rivers Trust
Part of a national and global movement
Holistic Water for Horticulture is part of a wider effort to improve water sustainability in key sourcing regions.
The project is a WRAP Water Roadmap initiative and sits within the UK Food and Drink Pact — bringing together businesses, NGOs and water-sector partners to protect water resources.
More than 100 organisations have committed to this work, with a shared ambition that 50% of the UK’s fresh food will be sourced from areas with sustainable water management by 2030. This supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Good polytunnel water management © South East Rivers Trust
Practical support for growers
A key part of the project is providing free, confidential support tailored to each farm.
Our specialists carry out on-farm visits to:
- Understand current water use and challenges
- Assess risks and future pressures
- Identify practical opportunities for improvement
Following each visit, growers receive a confidential farm plan outlining current practices, potential solutions and recommended next steps.
These plans also highlight relevant funding opportunities — supporting growers to take action, whether that’s investing in water storage, improving land management or implementing nature-based solutions.
Collaboration across the catchment
HWH depends on strong partnerships. We work with:
- Growers and farm clusters
- Retailers and supply chain partners
- Water companies and drainage boards
- Local authorities and support organisations
By bringing together different expertise, we can deliver more effective, joined-up solutions for water resilience.
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