Category Archives: guest blogs

Farm based inspiration out of the Westminster Bubble: guest blog by Vicki Hird

Posted on July 4, 2018 by

Policy work these days can be stifling; keeping you stuck to a desk, locked in meetings and shuffling around Westminster. It is only a matter of time before we hear news of Brexit fatigue or even burn out. The sheer … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture policy, Brexit, guest blogs, Vicki Hird | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Guest Blog: Soil Association response to 25 Year Environment Plan

Posted on January 17, 2018 by

A guest blog today from Laura MacKenzie, Head of Policy (farming and land-use) at the Soil Association.     Soil at heart of 25 year environment plan Last week, the Prime Minister gave her first major speech on the environment, … Continue reading →

Posted in 25 year environment plan, guest blogs, Soil Association | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Will farm subsidies be slashed after Brexit? Guest Blog by Guy Shrubsole, campaigner at Friends of the Earth,

Posted on December 13, 2017 by

  “After we Vote Leave”, said the official Leave campaign’s farming leaflet, “we can protect farmers’ subsidies – and even increase them”.   Eighteen months on from the Brexit referendum, that promise is looking decidedly shaky. The Government has pledged … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, Brexit, guest blogs | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

LEGOs, Landscapes and Catchments – guest blog by @UKSustain farm campaigner @VickiHird

Posted on November 7, 2017 by

  I am delighted to post another guest blog from Sustain’s Campaign Co-ordinator for Food and Farming Policy, Vicki Hird.   The rich debate about how we deliver new farming and land management support after we leave the CAP is … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, Brexit, farm subsidies, guest blogs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

New Natural Areas: time to really make space for nature and people? Guest Blog by Steve Jones

Posted on September 19, 2017 by

  Over at Mark Avery’s blog, Steve Jones outlined the idea of creating a series of pilot New Natural Areas, a new class of natural landscape to sit alongside National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Steve stressed that … Continue reading →

Posted in guest blogs, rewilding | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Guest Blog: Agri-environment – a need for detailed scrutiny, by Steve Peel

Posted on September 4, 2017 by

            As the process of changing from an European agriculture policy into a UK one starts, I’m delighted to publish a guest blog by former Natural England grassland specialist Steve Peel. Steve looks at how … Continue reading →

Posted in Agri-Environment Schemes, agriculture, Brexit, Common Agricultural Policy, guest blogs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 62 Comments

Why Taxpayers need a “housemate agreement with Farmers: Guest Blog by Vicki Hird.

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

                  The dreaded ‘red tape’ and interference in farm decisions under the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is why many UK farmers voted ‘leave’. But I aim to justify the uncomfortable but … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, Brexit, guest blogs, Vicki Hird | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Guest blog by Vicki Hird: Imagine the death of UK farms

Posted on February 28, 2017 by

As the Government continues to fail to develop any coherent plan for farming after Brexit, Vicki Hird, Sustain Campaign Coordinator and independent consultant (@vicki Hird) writes a guest blog. Imagine the death of UK farms   Is it an exaggeration … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, Brexit, farm subsidies, guest blogs | Tagged , , , , | 31 Comments

‘Look but don’t pick’ – Wild Mushrooms and the Forestry Commission; Guest blog by Peter Marren

Posted on September 5, 2016 by

I am delighted to publish this guest post from Peter Marren, conservationist, author and fungi expert.   The Forestry Commission has decided to ban the picking of wild fungi in the New Forest. A press release to that effect was … Continue reading →

Posted in Forestry Commission, guest blogs, Peter Marren, wild food | Tagged , , , | 40 Comments

Guest Post: Austerity and the Environment by Pete Johnstone

Posted on July 23, 2015 by

It’s a great pleasure to publish a Guest Blog today written by Pete Johnstone: the topic if Austerity and the Environment: News that the Government will be cutting Defra’s budget again this year comes as no surprise. There will of … Continue reading →

Posted in austerity, guest blogs | Tagged , | 4 Comments