Conserving the Quantocks after Brexit

The mist enveloped the trees as I set out on a walk through Great Wood in the Quantocks. The autumnal environment of multi-coloured trees set the scene but this was augmented by conifers, established as part of this Forestry Commission mixed woodland. The trees stood tall and proud, pushing their way up through the mistyContinueContinue reading “Conserving the Quantocks after Brexit”

Subsidies…dare we predict the future?

If you type in the phrase ‘farm subsidies’ into any search engine news feed you will find multiple references to the super rich receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds in subsidy for simply owning land. Under our current format of payments, driven by the Common Agricultural Policy, landowners receive payments for being just that, landowners. TheContinueContinue reading “Subsidies…dare we predict the future?”

The future of the UK in the world – a personal view. Guest blog by Robert Seago

This post forms part of a series of guest blogs on thinkingcountry relating to the future of British agriculture and conservation in the light of Brexit. Over the coming months, the series will present a range of views relating to the future of British agriculture and environmental policy. In this post Bob Seago, a reserveContinueContinue reading “The future of the UK in the world – a personal view. Guest blog by Robert Seago”

What do we want from a British Food, Farming, Environment (and rural communities) Policy?

In a recent article in the Huffington Post Ross Murray, President of the Country Land and Business Association, outlined some brief thoughts regarding a future British policy for ‘Food, Farming and the Environment’. He called on Andrea Leadsom and Defra not to ‘lose momentum’ and to ‘make an early commitment’ to establish a new Food,ContinueContinue reading “What do we want from a British Food, Farming, Environment (and rural communities) Policy?”

Leadsom takes over at Defra

As predicted, it’s all change at Defra as former Conservative leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom takes the helm from Liz Truss, who has moved to Justice. Social media was full of opinion yesterday afternoon as the news spread and I must admit that I took part in the debate along with thousands of others. Some ‘tweeters’ pointedContinueContinue reading “Leadsom takes over at Defra”