A Euro Haze Descends to create 'A Perfect Storm'.......

Well, after an unprecedented night including the resignation of our Prime Minister, it seems a slender minority have pushed the BREXIT movement so we are now faced with leaving the EU. But where does this leave farmers who claim subsidies from Europe or indeed the future for British wildlife? 

On the farming side, the alternative plans for subsidy support to replace basic payment and rural development schemes are hazy. The average farm support subsidy across the EU is around  €12,200, and whilst this may not seem a great deal - it is often the difference between profit and loss for small sized agri-businesses. A few months ago the Yorkshire Agricultural Society gazed Nostradamus-like into the future and concluded rather gloomily that BREXIT would not be beneficial for UK farmers (link to report here). Today the National Farmers Union have re-iterated the fact that British farmers face a period of uncertainty (link to statement here).

Looking forwards, Defra will have its work cut out to try and create new national policies to provide synergy between the demand (and cost) for public goods and the need for higher farm income. Their subsequent steering will have to integrate food security, sustainable management for natural resources and climate and balanced territorial development – something that the CAP was always criticised for. With BREXIT creating additional fiscal instability, the idiom of 'public money for public goods' will no doubt rear its head more emphatically than ever before.

The confirmed exit from the EU may not provide a Halcyon paradise as some commentators suggest

For our native wildlife, there is no doubt that European Directives and Regulations have strengthened protection - either for individual species or for where they are found. Again, it is not clear either how or to what extent these policies would be replaced, but one can't help thinking that the loss of the European Protected Species as sanctioned through the Habitats Directive (1994) might be missed most of all. Worryingly, the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management (CIEEM), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) all concurred with a recent report by Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) that concluded the UK environment would be 'vulnerable' after exit (link to paper).

A sleepy hazel dormouse - one of the native species that until today received extra legislative protection through EU Directives. Pic: J Littlemore. 

Whilst the debate has clearly been an emotive issue where political manoeuvring has been a clear impetus and the media frenzy concerning immigration seems to have swayed public opinion, the future of farming and of conservation is clearly in the balance. It will now require a steady hand at the tiller to steer a way through this particular perfect storm......

The views expressed by the author of this article are theirs alone.

Conserving our Green and Pleasant Land!

Georgina Wallis is busy. Not only has she just managed to complete her Foundation Degree in Agriculture with great aplomb, but she has accomplished this feat whilst working as the Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer for the River Nene Regional Park (RNRP). Her role is key in supporting local farmers to balance sustainable intensification of their farms with wider environmental considerations such as managing water pollution, protecting biodiversity and even combating climate change. 

Georgina explains….. ‘In my role at the RNRP, I have enjoyed helping farmers in implementing new countryside stewardship schemes on their land so they can seek to balance production with caring for the environment’. She adds ‘This year I was able to carry out an industry project alongside my course where I interviewed a wide cross section of farmers. Thankfully there was a strong agreement across all farm types and sizes that agri-environmental schemes should be part of an integrated farm approach, justifying my professional role’. 

The integration of environmental friendly farming practices is not new, but with recent changes to the Common Agricultural Policy persuading land owners to take on the new schemes is an ongoing battle. The value of infield options including pollen and nectar mixes is much publicised; indeed turning just a small amount of commercial farmland into habitat for pollinators actually increases some yields, despite the loss of land in production (Nowakowski & Pywell, 2016). 

Georgina (left) on a farm visit

With an additional challenge of representing the England women’s ‘tug-o’-war’ team, it seems Georgina will continue to be in demand! 

Her story is similar to many of our other Graduates, who benefit from the close links we have with industry throughout our courses. For more information on our agriculture and countryside management courses, why not get in touch today?

Bioblitz on Botany!

One simple way to gauge the biodiversity value of habitats is to find an expert, and this week we found one - Brian Laney. An accomplished natural history wildlife recorder across a range of Taxonomic groups, Brian accompanied tutor Julia and her Countryside Management students on a botanical ramble around the fields near Lodge Farm.

A surprising total of 53 common plant species were found all within a small area, and notable records for butterflies were also made. Check out the rather nice and sunny photo gallery below........

Brian (pictured left) with intrepid students