Farmers Weekly’s Philip Clarke says ‘the time has come for farmers to speak up’.

Tomorrow, like every Friday, I will receive my regular Farmers Weekly through the post. Occasionally I get the time to read it cover to cover. Sometimes it takes me a couple of days. Mostly however I will dip in and out of the pages (as I do with other magazines and papers) as the weekContinueContinue reading “Farmers Weekly’s Philip Clarke says ‘the time has come for farmers to speak up’.”

Rural Coalition Statement 2017

You may not have heard of it, but ‘The Rural Coalition’ recently published its 2017 statement, outlining the policy priorities and actions that it thinks will be required to sail rural communities through Brexit and beyond in a safe and secure (as opposed to strong and stable) manner. The Rural Coalition is exactly what itContinueContinue reading “Rural Coalition Statement 2017”

‘Dive in to Marine Protected Areas’ – Guest Post by Jess Mead

Jess Mead is a keen diver and Marine Biology graduate currently working for the National Marine Aquarium, coordinating the Community Seagrass Initiative in Weymouth, Dorset. She was previously a Marine Conservation Trainee at Dorset Wildlife Trust working at the Kimmeridge Marine Centre and before that she volunteered on various conservation projects across the world. You canContinueContinue reading “‘Dive in to Marine Protected Areas’ – Guest Post by Jess Mead”

Is countryside stewardship bad for wildlife?

Anybody who has had to trawl through the new countryside stewardship package, as I have this last fortnight, will know quite how much of a task it is. Hundreds of pages of options are available, which has good and bad sides to it. Fundamentally I think it is an effective package, enabling most possibilities inContinueContinue reading “Is countryside stewardship bad for wildlife?”

Universal Basic Income a Farm Subsidy Solution?

N.b This post was originally published in Countrysquire Magazine. With the signing of Article 50 imminent, land management subsidies will surely form at least part of the pre-Brexit debates. I have seen several articles published in the past few weeks in various papers, magazine and blogs discussing the concepts of both automation and universal basicContinueContinue reading “Universal Basic Income a Farm Subsidy Solution?”