I recently read a fascinating paper exploring how farmers gain personal benefits to their wellbeing, from taking part in projects which help wildlife on farms – in this case a project to help conserve rare cornfield wildflowers in North Yorkshire. I contacted the author Heidi Saxby, and this is a blog she has written on […]
Archive | Public policy
Health and Harmony: last chance to respond.
I’m posting this here as well as on my own blog, for maximum reach. It’s the People Need Nature response to Michael Gove’s consultation on the future of agriculture in the England. If you haven’t submitted a response yet, please find an hour over the long weekend to write something. Feel free to make use […]
Loss of Sheffield trees is more than just a bit of greenery gone: guest blog by Jane Wilkinson
By milesking on March 13, 2018 in birdsong, Guest blog, Jane Wilkinson, mental health benefits of nature, Public policy, Trees
Many people have heard about the “battle” to prevent a Local Authority contractor cutting down some of Sheffield’s trees as part of a road maintenance contract. National newspapers, charities, celebrities, and local protesters have all decried the loss of the trees; as well as the tactics of the contractors, security staff and, lately, the police […]
Health and Harmony? Government lays out stall on future of UK agriculture after Brexit
Last week was a momentous one in the life of farmers and anyone who take an interest in our food. The National Farmers Union (NFU) took the historic step of appointing a woman to be its President – it’s symptomatic of these strange days, that the NFU, the most conservative of bodies, should appoint a […]
Guest Blog: Why Taxpayers need a “housemate agreement with Farmers. By Vicki Hird.
The dreaded ‘red tape’ and interference in farm decisions under the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is why many UK farmers voted ‘leave’. But I aim to justify the uncomfortable but necessary complexity we will need to cope with after Brexit when we have a new contract or agreement between farmers and the taxpayer. […]
A Pebble in the Pond – new report launched on the future of farming, food and nature after Brexit
Today we are launching our first policy report: Pebble in the Pond, Opportunities for farming, food and nature after Brexit. You can download the report here Here’s a summary As England prepares to leave the EU we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the way we support England’s land managers. This […]