Defra has a new Secretary of State, Owen Paterson. On Wednesday he made his first public statement on the subject of the rural economy. You can read it here.
You can make up your own mind, but to me It suggests a strong commitment to the countryside and to the communities and businesses within it.
But it made me wanting to hear more. So, I am now looking for Mr Paterson's next statement - one about the natural environment, stressing his commitments to the objectives in the Natural Environment White Paper and underlining the importance of continued support for wildlife-friendly farming through agri-environment schemes.
To be honest, Mr Paterson could have tied this all together into one statement. The health of the rural economy is inextricably linked to the quality of the environment and agri-environment schemes play a key role in protecting and enhancing the countryside. These schemes help recover wildlife populations, protect nature's free services of clean water, carbon storage and pollination, and help sustain the beauty which inspires so many of us. But they also underpin many of our most successful rural enterprises.
Don't just take my word for it, here are thoughts from farmers who have benefited from these schemes.
Carol Penellum from the south west part of the Lake District says “Our Higher Level Stewardship agreement is probably the single most important factor determining not only the future health and success of the environment around us, but also of our business at Swinside Farm”. Carol and her husband Greg farm 600ha and feel a strong sense of responsibility as owners and tenant farmers of some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside. They entered into a Higher Level Scheme agreement several years ago, following on from nearly 20 years as part of an Environmentally Sensitive Area.
The funding they receive supports a range of activities and management identified as important for the health of local wildlife and in particular for the area of the farm designated as a SSSI: reducing sheep numbers and increasing cattle, including native breeds, to benefit the condition of the moorland, reducing the intensity of management of the in-bye land and hay meadows, creating woodland in the upland gullies, planting wild bird seed mixtures etc. Greg and Carol have also been able to create paths to enhance public access, allowing the ancient stone circle on their land to be reached, and to undertake educational work and farm visits.
Tony and Sharon Wood, who also farm in Cumbria, share a similar view. They have been able to make a step change in their business and do more for the wildlife around them, thanks to their HLS agreement. “I want to carry on farming profitably and productively, and I want to do it hand in hand with nature. Agri-environment provides the critical support to do this.“ Like Swinside Farm, Tony and Sharon have created paths for visitors, and delivering a growing programme of educational work with schools and adults, made possible by a classroom and hides. The results that the family are seeing in terms of wildlife are also providing knock on benefits, as they have diversified into providing rural accommodation in their ‘Octolodges’: “the more wildlife and birds we get on the farm, the more people want to come,” says Tony. Their HLS agreement provides them with greater confidence to take some risks, to innovate and diversify, to create opportunities and tap into them. “It gives our business a vital element of certainty in a world of increasing price volatility. This funding has secured the future of this productive farm for our children.But it will need continued and growing investment in integrated and tailored schemes like this one into the long term.”
Mr Paterson's statement rightly identifies quality of life as a key priority for rural areas. And this in turn is dependent on a healthy natural environment. To protect and enhance it we need more farmers managing their land with wildlife in mind. More farmers like Carol and Tony. But they need support. And this is why agri-environment schemes are so vital. It is also why agri-environment schemes should be seen by Mr Paterson as his most important funding stream.
What did you think of Mr Paterson's first statement and what you like to hear in his second?
It would be great to hear your views.
I thought Mr Paterson's first statement rather bland and unimaginative, mostly "god and motherhood stuff", with no reference to the importance of the countryside for wildlife and biodiversity. However perhaps, (perhaps!!) these issues will all be covered in his second statement.
I thought his predecessor, Caroline Spelman, made a reasonable committment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss in the countryside and reversing the inexorable decline in the farmland bird index and he should be giving that same committment. Specifically he should be saying at least the following in his next statment;
He should be stressing the great importance of,and his great support for the ELS and HLS schemes in this achieving these aims. To that end he should currently be "on the front line" in Brussels during the negotiations for the new CAP budget seeking a much greater increase in the proportion (3.5% at present) of the budget devoted to environmental friendly farming. (See the RSPB Campaign for supporters to e-mail their MEPs).
He should be committing much greater Government resources to preserving threaten wildlife in the UKs overseas territories which holds 90% of the UK's biodiversity and almost all of the seriously threatened species.
He should be committing the Government to eliminating, within the life time of this Government, the illegal killing of birds of prey anywhere but especially on grouse moors.
He should be saying that his department is totally against any Severn barrage and any airport in the Thames Estuary.
These are some, but by no means all, of the things he SHOULD .be saying in his next statment, but some how I don't think he will be. If he even commits strongly to ELS/HLS we will be doing well!! I have my doubts about Mr Paterson, I hope I am wrong.