The government has published a report which has found that farmers participating in government-funded conservation groups are creating close-knit, greener communities across England.
Here are some excerpts from the Natural England article:
‘Since 2015, £10.3 million of funding has been committed to 136 facilitation groups across England through four national rounds and one flood-focused round of the fund.
Tony Juniper, Chair of natural England said:
“We already know that farmers and landowners can achieve much greater environmental outcomes by working together on a landscape scale.
“This report has shown that by sharing knowledge and expertise, farmers and landowners benefit from the creation of a stronger community in their local area. At the same time, they also gain the vital skills that will be needed under future schemes that will reward farmers for the public goods they work hard to produce.”
Chief Executive of Rural Payments Agency, Paul Caldwell, said:
“These Facilitation Fund groups are a valuable aid in maximising the benefits of the Countryside Stewardship schemes, as well as providing a support base for group members looking to enter into new agreements to unlock the potential of their land.”’
- Image by Jess Brooks