'Devil will be in the detail' - Farmers urged to work together for landscape
Farmers are set to be asked to work more collaboratively with their neighbours in landscape-scale projects as part of a new government drive to restore nature and improve environmental standards.
A revised environmental roadmap, published this week, has set out measures to clean up rivers, cut pollution and boost biodiversity.
Ministers announced some £500 million would be ploughed into future rounds of the Landscape Recovery scheme long-term projects.
Neil Heseltine, whose Swaledale sheep and Belted Galloway cattle enterprise at Malham is under landscape recovery projects, said anything that added to the strength of such schemes was to be welcomed.
He said: “On the face of it, this sounds positive, but the devil will be in the detail. I just hope it adds some weight and momentum to what’s already happening.
"The fact that Defra and the powers that be are still looking at landscape recovery and nature recovery at scale is good news.”
Previous funding rounds have featured river restoration across farm clusters and wetland creation, as well as peatland improvement, with most projects involving groups of neighbouring farms working together across whole catchments.
However, Yorkshire farmers have raised concerns over the pace of progress of schemes, saying they are being delayed as farmers get used to the concept of working in groups.
Nevertheless, Defra says the scheme could open new income streams for participants, with food production continuing on much of the land involved.
The majority of the approved projects are likely to feature agricultural production alongside environmental delivery, with land-use change largely focused on low grade land.
The revised plan follows farmers warning higher-grade land must be protected to safeguard food production. The government has been facing calls from industry bodies, including the NFU and the CLA, to provide clearer guidance on how Landscape Recovery, the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship can operate together on mixed or tenanted farms.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "Our environment faces real challenges, with pollution in our waterways, air quality that’s too low in many areas, and treasured species in decline. This plan marks a step change in restoring nature. Our ambitious targets are backed by real action to cut harmful air pollutants, revive habitats and protect the environment for generations to come.”
The NFU said while Defra’s revised plan sets clear goals for nature, it leaves unanswered questions about how these ambitions align with food production.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The clear direction from Defra is that they need farmers to deliver for the environment and farmers stand ready to do just that.
"What farmers need from Defra in return is similar clarity on the importance of domestic food production and a policy framework that supports that."