Page 10 - Wildlife News Dec 2017

Hot topics
In tune with nature
We need a new partnership for countryside and wildlife, and a new framework
for the natural environment that includes an Environment Act, says Director of
External Affairs, Tom Beckett and Head of Conservation, Matt Jackson
A s the champion of nature and wildlife in Berks, Bucks
& Oxon, the Wildlife Trust hosted a lively debate on
The Future of Food, Farming and Nature at our annual
Conference on Saturday 14 October.
In leaving the EU the Government has a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to set out how the people who look after our
countryside are supported so that food production and
protecting wildlife are given equal value.
The debate was hosted by Prof Dieter Helm, University of
Oxford economist and Chair of the Natural Capital Committee,
which just a few days before had published its report on Defra’s
proposed 25-year plan for the environment.
The speakers were: Minette Batters, a commercial farmer from
Wiltshire who is Vice-President of the NFU; Ian Boyd, a Pasture-for-
Life organic farmer from the Cotswolds; Bill Stow, a former Defra
Director General for Environment Policy; and Ellie Brodie, Senior
Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts. The speakers put forward
their views on the future opportunities and challenges.
Farmer Clusters are a new way of thinking about better ways
of farming for wildlife. Developed by the Game and Wildlife
Conservation Trust and Natural England, they arose from 12
pilot Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) funded by Government
from 2012 to 2015. One farmer-led NIA in Wiltshire connected
neighbouring farmers to bring about significant increases in
local corn bunting, skylark and butterfly populations.
Participating farmers meet regularly to plan their actions,
organise training days and visit each other’s land to compare
notes. By agreeing priorities and sharing ideas and equipment,
the farmers can achieve a greater net benefit for wildlife than if
they were to work on their own. BBOWT is keen to help set up
similar schemes across our area and has begun to meet local
farmers to explore ideas.
Giles Strother, Reserves Acquisitions and Project Manager
10 Wildlife news / December 2017
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Questions raised
They sparked a wide range of questions about the future of the
landscape. For example, should upland farms close down and
the landscape become national parks with tourism sustaining
the local economy; will organic farming with high animal welfare
standards produce enough affordable food; and how will farmers
and landowners be incentivised to improve and maintain soil,
water and air quality as well as looking after wildlife?
Dieter pointed out that the Common Agricultural Policy will
be radically transformed in the near future. This will potentially
transform the way that land is managed for food production in
all EU countries, with as yet unknown implications for UK farmers
and food producers exporting and retailers importing food.
Balancing act
It was clear from the debate that farmers must be supported
to earn a sustainable living, producing quality food that is
affordable for everyone, as well as delivering the valuable
benefits of improved soil, water and air quality, and looking after
their natural environment for wildlife.
Dieter was optimistic that the Government’s overarching
25-year plan for the environment and agriculture would be
published by early next year and urged the Government to use
this to create an Environment Act.
However tired we are listening to politicians argue and bicker
about ‘deal or no deal’ Brexit negotiations, the outcome on 29
March 2019 is going to have a significant effect on us all.