Countryman Diary - December 2011
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) believes the recently announced Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms are a missed opportunity to help secure a brighter future for the county’s rich environment.
The charity, which has 33,000 members and manages forty-five nature reserves, has concerns that the EU farming reforms will reduce funding for vital agri-environment schemes. These reductions will have direct impacts on the future health of our countryside and also the farming community, with whom DWT works in partnerships across the county.
DWT believes that landowners are inadequately rewarded for the critical role they play in producing food and maintaining a healthy wildlife-rich environment. This includes providing clean water supplies, clean air and productive soils.
Harry Barton, the trust’s new chief executive, says:
“This is the best opportunity in a decade to make the CAP work better for farmers and wildlife.
“Pressures on our natural environment are growing ever greater as land is built upon and demand for cheap food grows. These reforms do not go anywhere near far enough.
“Politicians in the UK and Europe need to have the courage and conviction to bring forward a package of measures that will have a real, meaningful and long lasting impact for the natural environment on which we will all depend.
“Through our Working Wetlands project in the north of the county, our farming and wildlife advisors have carried out more than 1,000 farm visits and helped secure over 5,700 acres (2,300 ha) of wildlife-rich grasslands in optimum condition. From this experience we know the crucial role agri-environmental schemes play in both sustaining the farmers’ way of life, as well as our life-support systems. But the proposed reforms threaten the protection that these grasslands have been given, and risk undoing years of hard-won gains for rare wildlife.”
The charity will campaign along with the other wildlife trusts throughout the UK over the coming months to feed in to the consultation process which is due to end next year.
(There will be an interview with Wildlife Trust president Simon King in next month’s magazine, on sale 23rd December.)
If the CAP fits…
CPRE tells me that an influential group of over twenty-five wildlife and environmental organisations have joined together to persuade the government to take a firm negotiating position with the EU over strengthening environmental provisions in the Common Agricultural Policy.
Campaigners fear that unless the UK takes a strong line on making CAP payments, currently worth over £3 billion per year, do more towards improving the natural environment, the current round of reforms will be little more then a ‘green-wash’ for the established status quo.
Abi Bunker, RSPB senior agriculture policy officer who chairs the Wildlife and Countryside Link’s agriculture working group, says:
“We’re deeply concerned that agri-environment schemes, which reward farmers to do fantastic things for the environment and wildlife on their land, will receive less money in the future. This flies in the face of claims that the next CAP will be greener.
It is now time for the UK government, and UK members of the European Parliament, to make sure such schemes are properly resourced so our farmers get all the support they need to do their bit for nature.”
The Joint Links group has produced a report, ‘Crunch Time for CAP’, which outlines ten key outcomes that Joint Links thinks the UK government should make the basis of its negotiating position with EU partners.
Ian Woodhurst, senior farming campaigner for CPRE and vice-chairman of Wildlife and Countryside Link’s working group, explains:
“The CAP has huge potential to bring about a revolution in the protection and enrichment of Europe’s landscapes. But to make this happen, we will need our government to show the political will and a strong commitment to arguing the case in Brussels.”
While searching through an old issue of The Countryman I came across this superb photograph ‘Straight furrows near Berwick-upon-Tweed’ by H G Clarke.
The photograph was printed in the magazine in 1965 but may have been taken earlier. Not only are we able to marvel at the photography but also the skill of the ploughman and his horses.
What control and patience he must have had to complete such a perfect example of his art — and art it certainly is in this case.
Exploring Norfolk by foot
I’m not sure my dodgy knees will be able to last a long-distance walk nowadays, but a trail in south Norfolk could tempt me to don the boots again next time I’m in the area.
The Boudicca Way, a thirty-six-mile (58 km) route passing through a relatively unknown, unspoilt and beautiful part of the English countryside between Diss and Norwich train stations, has recently been rejuvenated.
It’s all thanks to a donation from the Southern Norfolk Ramblers Group and a grant from Waveney Local Action Group (LAG).
The route has been re-guided and new signage has been organised by the Boudicca Way project, a voluntary community and small business project formed to encourage greater access to south Norfolk.
A website, www.boudiccaway.co.uk, provides information on the area for locals and visitors alike. The project will ensure that south Norfolk’s landscape and history can be enjoyed by a new generation of walkers.
Overheard…
In our village church, three-year-old Eleanor: “Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen.”
Compliments of the season
Hopefully my knees will manage a traditional Christmas Day walk again this year, when I’ll be looking to enjoy some extra peace out in the countryside. Whatever you are doing over the festive period, have a great time.
Happy Christmas to all our readers and advertisers from everyone here at The Countryman.
Paul Jackson
Editor
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