How crucial are direct payments for farmers?

In a recent policy document the NFU has suggested that continuing direct payments (at least in the short-term) in a new British Agricultural Policy will be crucial to help farm businesses deal with volatility. Before I read the report I must admit that I had become convinced that withdrawing as much support as possible isContinueContinue reading “How crucial are direct payments for farmers?”

Rising Tide

The autumnal equinox, when day and night are almost equal, has come and gone, the nights are getting longer, temperatures cooling and we begin to look forward to winter fires and long evenings. Predictions begin to come in as to where in the UK will actually receive snow this year. The Harvest Moon came uponContinueContinue reading “Rising Tide”

Book Review: ‘On the Marshes’ by Carol Donaldson

The marshlands of north Kent represent a pocket of isolation within a sea of growing urbanisation and economic ‘progress’. The call of the curlew cuts across the wide open landscape, interspersed with areas of scrub and gatherings of sheep. Redundant barges sink into the mud as pleasure cruisers herald a change in culture at theContinueContinue reading “Book Review: ‘On the Marshes’ by Carol Donaldson”

How Would Agriculture in the UK Change if the Lynx were Introduced? – Guest post by Emily Folk

The impacts on agriculture in the UK from introducing a new predator have yet to be determined. As humans, we have made huge impacts on this world—some of them good, and some of them bad. With the growth of our population and the need to feed those people, we have developed technologies and techniques thatContinueContinue reading “How Would Agriculture in the UK Change if the Lynx were Introduced? – Guest post by Emily Folk”

World Environment Day

Today is ‘World Environment Day’, the UN’s way of reminding us that we should be aware of environmental issues and be activists for the natural world, not just passive observers. It has been held on 5th June since 1974 and is now marked in 143 countries across the world. Every year there is a differentContinueContinue reading “World Environment Day”