The CLA is urging farmers across the South West to stop hiding their light behind a bush and reveal how they are voluntarily protecting and enhancing the wildlife, soil and water - by completing the annual survey for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.
The Association says it is vitally important for the farming industry to come forward with the evidence before the CFE initiative is reviewed by the Government.
The CLA is asking all of its members who receive the Survey, which has just been sent to 5,500 randomly selected farmers across England, to make every acre of voluntary management count.
CLA South West surveyor, Graham Clark, said: “Farmers undertake a great deal of voluntary environmental management through agri-environment schemes such as ELS and HLS - but this is usually unpaid and often unrecognised. Unless the industry can demonstrate that existing practices sufficiently benefit the environment, legislation may still be introduced adding further to the burden of red tape already suffocating the industry.
“South West farmers have plenty to be proud of, so please don’t keep your good work to yourself.”
For further information on CFE see http://www.cla.org.uk/Policy_Work/Campaign_for_the_farmed_environment/
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
CLA calls on the Government to follow up its pledge to ‘free-up’ farming
A Government pledge to free-up farming by slashing red tape will blow a breath of fresh air through the industry – according to the CLA, the Country Land and Business Association.
The comments follow the publication of the Government’s response to the report of the Farming Regulation Task Force – which was led by Richard Macdonald – and Farming Minister Jim Paice’s promise to follow the recommendations through and get on with the job of ridding the industry of red tape.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer said: "Knocking down the barriers to economic growth in rural areas is essential if rural businesses are to play their part in delivering sustainable development.
“We are clear that cutting the mountains of paperwork and recognising the importance of online communications are key to winning the war on red tape, so we are pleased to see that Defra has made getting farmers online a top priority - but we remain to be convinced that the Government’s current plans will actually meet the needs of the 10 percent of rural communities who will not have access to superfast broadband.”
The CLA has also given an enthusiastic reception to proposals which will see regulators rewarding landowners for taking steps to maintain high farming and environmental standards with a much-needed reduction in red tape, inspections and form-filling – the so called "earned recognition."
The Task Force had, he said, been very effective in listening to land-based businesses and conveying their frustrations and concerns to Ministers – the challenge now was for the Government to ensure those recommendations were implemented quickly.
“It will require a change in attitude to farm businesses. This is about enabling land-based businesses to get on with their job and to do it as efficiently and effectively as we know they can – without the threat of a big stick.”
For further information and interviews please contact:
Paul Millard CLA South West Communications Manager on 01380 830179 or 07831 674345
For further information on the CLA please go to www.cla.org.uk
The comments follow the publication of the Government’s response to the report of the Farming Regulation Task Force – which was led by Richard Macdonald – and Farming Minister Jim Paice’s promise to follow the recommendations through and get on with the job of ridding the industry of red tape.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer said: "Knocking down the barriers to economic growth in rural areas is essential if rural businesses are to play their part in delivering sustainable development.
“We are clear that cutting the mountains of paperwork and recognising the importance of online communications are key to winning the war on red tape, so we are pleased to see that Defra has made getting farmers online a top priority - but we remain to be convinced that the Government’s current plans will actually meet the needs of the 10 percent of rural communities who will not have access to superfast broadband.”
The CLA has also given an enthusiastic reception to proposals which will see regulators rewarding landowners for taking steps to maintain high farming and environmental standards with a much-needed reduction in red tape, inspections and form-filling – the so called "earned recognition."
The Task Force had, he said, been very effective in listening to land-based businesses and conveying their frustrations and concerns to Ministers – the challenge now was for the Government to ensure those recommendations were implemented quickly.
“It will require a change in attitude to farm businesses. This is about enabling land-based businesses to get on with their job and to do it as efficiently and effectively as we know they can – without the threat of a big stick.”
For further information and interviews please contact:
Paul Millard CLA South West Communications Manager on 01380 830179 or 07831 674345
For further information on the CLA please go to www.cla.org.uk
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
CLA Seminar Pulls in Leading Specialists on Public Access
Somerset will be the focal point for a major seminar on public access next month when three of the leading specialists in the field will come together to provide an analysis of the key issues confronting all those involved in the debate on the future of public access to land.
The seminar, which is being organised by the South West Region of the Country Land and Business Association in conjunction with lawyers, Dyne Drewett, will consider opportunities for improvements to access in the future as well as the problems of the present. The speakers will be Sarah Slade, a Chartered Surveyor and the CLA‘s National Access Adviser; Dr Karen Jones, a Barrister with Tanfield Chambers and former head of the CLA legal department and Jonathan Cheal, a solicitor and partner with Dyne Drewett who is a leading rights of way lawyer.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says access issues affect every county across the South West – but Somerset had been chosen as a venue for the event because it offered clear examples of the difficulties confronting land owners and managers as well as the difficulties confronting those charged with managing public access.
Somerset, he said, also provides a good example of one of the key issues the speakers will be discussing – which is what land owners should do when applications are made to re-establish rights of way across their land. Mr Mortimer said that Somerset County Council’s Rights of Way Department had received more than 200 applications for unrecorded rights of way to be included on its Definitive Map; many of which had been incorrectly submitted because insufficient efforts were made to contact the owners of the land affected.
Coastal Access, with its questions on spreading room and liability; the need for reforms to the Animals Act plus controversial legislation relating to village greens were, he said all presenting challenges for land owners and managers. At the same time, Government proposals for improving rights of way based on the Stepping Forward report were being developed - which meant that the policy agenda was also changing.
“Public access continues to raise issues which landowners must ensure they understand and they must also be certain that appropriate measures are in place to enable them to manage access successfully on their land. But if we really want to make our rights of way fit for 21st Century - rather than the 19th Century - then we need to move away from the premise of increasing the amount of access at whatever cost and we need instead to look at improving what is already there.”
The three speakers are leading figures in the access debate and bring a wealth of knowledge, specialism and practical experience to the table. The event is being held at Holbrook House, Wincanton, Somerset, on Tuesday 27 March 4pm-7pm and the cost is £17 for CLA members and £30 for non-members.
Places can be reserved by calling the CLA regional office on 01249 700200; by emailing sarah.fern@cla.org.uk ; or by going to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
The seminar, which is being organised by the South West Region of the Country Land and Business Association in conjunction with lawyers, Dyne Drewett, will consider opportunities for improvements to access in the future as well as the problems of the present. The speakers will be Sarah Slade, a Chartered Surveyor and the CLA‘s National Access Adviser; Dr Karen Jones, a Barrister with Tanfield Chambers and former head of the CLA legal department and Jonathan Cheal, a solicitor and partner with Dyne Drewett who is a leading rights of way lawyer.
CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says access issues affect every county across the South West – but Somerset had been chosen as a venue for the event because it offered clear examples of the difficulties confronting land owners and managers as well as the difficulties confronting those charged with managing public access.
Somerset, he said, also provides a good example of one of the key issues the speakers will be discussing – which is what land owners should do when applications are made to re-establish rights of way across their land. Mr Mortimer said that Somerset County Council’s Rights of Way Department had received more than 200 applications for unrecorded rights of way to be included on its Definitive Map; many of which had been incorrectly submitted because insufficient efforts were made to contact the owners of the land affected.
Coastal Access, with its questions on spreading room and liability; the need for reforms to the Animals Act plus controversial legislation relating to village greens were, he said all presenting challenges for land owners and managers. At the same time, Government proposals for improving rights of way based on the Stepping Forward report were being developed - which meant that the policy agenda was also changing.
“Public access continues to raise issues which landowners must ensure they understand and they must also be certain that appropriate measures are in place to enable them to manage access successfully on their land. But if we really want to make our rights of way fit for 21st Century - rather than the 19th Century - then we need to move away from the premise of increasing the amount of access at whatever cost and we need instead to look at improving what is already there.”
The three speakers are leading figures in the access debate and bring a wealth of knowledge, specialism and practical experience to the table. The event is being held at Holbrook House, Wincanton, Somerset, on Tuesday 27 March 4pm-7pm and the cost is £17 for CLA members and £30 for non-members.
Places can be reserved by calling the CLA regional office on 01249 700200; by emailing sarah.fern@cla.org.uk ; or by going to www.regonline.co.uk/claswevents
CLA Charitable Trust sponsors opportunity for urban youngsters
A West Country based charity has just been given the first of a series of annual £10,000 donations from the CLA Charitable Trust – money which will be used to give youngsters from schools in inner city or disadvantaged areas a week on a working farm.
The first cheque was handed over at Wick Court, Gloucestershire, and this week where 30 children from a primary school in Enfield, Middlesex, were enjoying lambing, milking and carrying out the other daily tasks of farming life courtesy of the Farms for City Children Charity.
Wick Court is one of three farms operated by Farms for City Children which was founded by ‘Warhorse’ author Michael Morpurgo and his wife, Clare, at their farm at Nethercott, Devon.
The charity provides working holidays for around 3,000 youngsters from urban backgrounds across the UK on its three farms. For many it is their first experience of the countryside and their first opportunity to get close to farm animals.
The £10,000 a year donation agreement by the CLA Charitable Trust will be used to fund three separate one-week stays for a total of more than 100 children at one of the charity’s centres in Devon, Gloucestershire or Pembrokeshire. The money will also be targeted at providing farm breaks for youngsters with disabilities.
CLA Charitable Trust director Peter Geldart said: “The work of Farms for City Children matches the objective of the CLA Charitable Trust to promote education about the countryside to children from inner city schools. Without such opportunities these kids might never experience contact with farm animals or begin to understand where their food comes from.”
Farms for City Children Chief Executive Helen Chaloner said: “This fantastic support from the CLA Charitable Trust means so much to us. Our aim of giving city children an unforgettable experience staying on a working farm sits so well with the aims of the Trust. We are excited at the prospect of working closely together over the next few years.”
The key element, says the farm children’s manager, Heather Tarplee is that the youngsters get to do all the jobs on the farm from milking and feeding the cattle, chickens, sheep and pigs to mucking out the horse livery, working in the gardens and even pressing the apples for apple juice and cider at harvest time.
“We make sure they are involved in every aspect of work on the farm, they are not allowed games consoles and there are no televisions so they have to learn to engage with each other and with what’s going on around them – but by the end of a full day, they’re usually too tired for television,” she said.
Note to Newsdesks:
A photo of the presentation at Wick Court is available on request. Please respond to this email if you require a copy.
For further information on this news release please call Paul Millard,
CLA SW Communications Manager, on 01380 830179 or 07831 674345
For further information on the CLA please go to www.cla.org.uk
For further information on Farms for City Children please call Tracy Izod on 01837 55876
The first cheque was handed over at Wick Court, Gloucestershire, and this week where 30 children from a primary school in Enfield, Middlesex, were enjoying lambing, milking and carrying out the other daily tasks of farming life courtesy of the Farms for City Children Charity.
Wick Court is one of three farms operated by Farms for City Children which was founded by ‘Warhorse’ author Michael Morpurgo and his wife, Clare, at their farm at Nethercott, Devon.
The charity provides working holidays for around 3,000 youngsters from urban backgrounds across the UK on its three farms. For many it is their first experience of the countryside and their first opportunity to get close to farm animals.
The £10,000 a year donation agreement by the CLA Charitable Trust will be used to fund three separate one-week stays for a total of more than 100 children at one of the charity’s centres in Devon, Gloucestershire or Pembrokeshire. The money will also be targeted at providing farm breaks for youngsters with disabilities.
CLA Charitable Trust director Peter Geldart said: “The work of Farms for City Children matches the objective of the CLA Charitable Trust to promote education about the countryside to children from inner city schools. Without such opportunities these kids might never experience contact with farm animals or begin to understand where their food comes from.”
Farms for City Children Chief Executive Helen Chaloner said: “This fantastic support from the CLA Charitable Trust means so much to us. Our aim of giving city children an unforgettable experience staying on a working farm sits so well with the aims of the Trust. We are excited at the prospect of working closely together over the next few years.”
The key element, says the farm children’s manager, Heather Tarplee is that the youngsters get to do all the jobs on the farm from milking and feeding the cattle, chickens, sheep and pigs to mucking out the horse livery, working in the gardens and even pressing the apples for apple juice and cider at harvest time.
“We make sure they are involved in every aspect of work on the farm, they are not allowed games consoles and there are no televisions so they have to learn to engage with each other and with what’s going on around them – but by the end of a full day, they’re usually too tired for television,” she said.
Note to Newsdesks:
A photo of the presentation at Wick Court is available on request. Please respond to this email if you require a copy.
For further information on this news release please call Paul Millard,
CLA SW Communications Manager, on 01380 830179 or 07831 674345
For further information on the CLA please go to www.cla.org.uk
For further information on Farms for City Children please call Tracy Izod on 01837 55876
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