A voice from the field - Part III

(All views shared in this series are those of the individual farmer and have not been edited by the RSPB)

Post Brexit, all farming sectors saw an increase in the value of their product - primarily due to scare mongering and the weakness of the pound. Those involved in the delivery of agri environmental schemes panicked that Article 50 would be implemented within months and all existing schemes would cease. (Propaganda, press and politics). With the re-assurance from May’s Government that all agri-environment schemes would continue to run for the next 5 years, their minds were temporarily put at rest.

The stark truth of it is that every citizen of the United Kingdom is a stake holder in the environment. Shop workers, pensioners, traders and businessmen all have a responsibility to maintain and enhance our natural environment. For any Government to remove payments to farmers for delivery of environmental services would be suicide. Ironically, increased commodity prices and Indian summers and the ease of farmers to implement the following crop, have led to the natural world being side lined once again. It is therefore the responsibility of farmers and NGOs (all of them) to work together!

We need to devise a workable system of environmental delivery that the United Kingdom can be proud of and demonstrate systems and practices that when used correctly, deliver. It must be flexible and user friendly. We should also be looking to reward and champion custodians that improve habitats, halt declines and can demonstrate best practice.