More people now live in cities than in the countryside and we are far removed from the fields and stock-pens where much of our food comes from. How it is produced has a huge impact on the UK's landscape and wildlife. In the first of an occasional series of guest blogs on the benefits modern farming brings society, we're delighted to introduce you to Martin Lines, chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network:
I farm in Cambridgeshire and on the land I manage we’ve seen how nature friendly farming can have an amazing effect. Restoring hedgerows, growing wildflowers for pollinators, and leaving leftover corn for farmland birds has transformed our farms. Barn owl and skylark numbers have increased and we now see a huge variety of wildlife here. At the Nature Friendly Farming Network we want to change the way people think about the connection between food, farming and nature.
Here’s how you can make a difference by reducing wasted time, energy and food:
1) Join the Nature Friendly Farming Network
It’s free, and open to everyone. The network brings together people who believe nature friendly farming is not only better for nature, but is also the most productive and sustainable way of getting food from our land. Many farmers are already playing an incredible role in helping wildlife flourish on their farms – we believe that they should be better supported and rewarded for their good work. Find out more here: Nature Friendly Farming Network
2) Choose seasonal, and sustainably grown local produce
Be conscious of what you put in your shopping basket. There’s just no need to buy apples that have been flown in from New Zealand at a time of year when they’re being harvested in late summer and early autumn in the UK, for example. Looking for seasonal, locally sourced food is a good place to start. Be aware that there’s a lot of pressure on farmers to extend the growing season of produce: forcing fruit and vegetables to grow all year round in heated greenhouses can be very bad for the environment in terms of energy use.
3) Don’t waste food
Up to forty percent of what farmers produce in the UK gets thrown away by consumers, and the retail and catering sectors. This is not only incredibly disheartening for farmers, it’s also a ridiculous waste of natural resources. As consumers we can help by carefully planning ahead to avoid binning food we don’t get round to using. This way we can save money, and reduce food waste. The Love Food Hate Waste campaign website is full of handy tips.
4) Buy wonky veg
I know several people who have grown vegetables to specifications required by certain supermarkets. Half way through the growing season the supermarkets decide they no longer want that particular variety of carrot, for example. Other supermarkets won’t take this produce as they have their own specific requirements, so the farmer is then left with a field of produce they can’t sell. They can then sell this very cheaply to a wholesaler or just plough it back into the field, which is a massive waste. The same thing happens to so-called “wonky” veg: you end up with piles of perfectly good food that goes to waste because supermarkets say they won’t stock it. I believe that if we produce something to eat, people should be allowed to eat it! Show your local shop or supermarket that you’re perfectly happy to buy misshapen produce.
For more ways to help nature, check out the RSPB webpages. Or perhaps you want to get fitter outdoors? Try one of our Active in Nature activities at RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve at Purfleet on the eastern edge of London.