Earth Day, freedom of thought and 2 billion acts of green

As I write this post a host of world leaders are signing the Paris Climate Agreement in New York. By signing the agreement they commit their country to work towards limiting temperature rises of a maximum of 2 degrees celsius, compared to 1990 levels, and their governments must submit detailed plans as to how theyContinueContinue reading “Earth Day, freedom of thought and 2 billion acts of green”

Thanks for telling us your position NFU but it won’t influence how I vote

After a long debate earlier this week the National Farmers Union council voted overwhelmingly to support the campaign to remain within the European Union. The following resolution was agreed: “The NFU Council resolves that on the balance of existing evidence available to us at present, the interests of farmers are best served by our continuingContinueContinue reading “Thanks for telling us your position NFU but it won’t influence how I vote”

Visiting the Knepp Estate: A Lesson in Rewilding

Transitional, innovative, exciting, restorative, unique, both agriculturally and economically sensical and questionable concurrently and all in all, a little bit mad! The rewilding project at the Knepp Castle Estate in Sussex, spearheaded by estate owner Charlie Burrell and his superb team, is all of these things and more. My visit yesterday, the first time IContinueContinue reading “Visiting the Knepp Estate: A Lesson in Rewilding”

Our Place in Time and the Subtleties of Changing Landscapes

Bordering the north eastern most part of our farm at Walton Hall, Walton-on-the-Naze lies an area of low lying land, owned by the District Council and protected from regular flooding by the natural, rapidly eroding cliff. This small section of eroding cliff face also protects a water treatment works which serves thousands of local people,ContinueContinue reading “Our Place in Time and the Subtleties of Changing Landscapes”

From the ‘Charter of the Forest’ to the ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’

In a previous post I explored the proposed ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’ which is being put forward by several dozen conservation organisations, including the Woodland Trust. It is suggested that the new charter should be signed in 2017, to act in conjunction with the 800th anniversary of the signing of the first ‘Charter of theContinueContinue reading “From the ‘Charter of the Forest’ to the ‘Charter for Trees, Woods and People’”