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Nature Can’t Wait

Farmers, conservationists  and nature lovers need to work together

It has been proved that healthy ecosystems and abundant nature are a vital part of a functioning and sustainable food and farming system. We rely on insects for pollination, hedgerows to sequester carbon and healthy soil to grow our crops. In the UK 75% of the land mass is given over to farming  and our food system is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss  in the country. The recent “State of Nature”report indicates that intensive agricultural management practices are one of the main drivers of the decline in wildlife.

A Government commissioned independent review stated that “If we don’t change our food system we won’t be able to feed ourselves in the future”.

Our Yorkshire rivers are in a poor state of health and agricultural pollution is a big contributory factor. Sediment from run off, phosphates and nitrates from manure, pesticides and sheep dip and bacteria from livestock and fertilisers find their way into our waterways. They reduce oxygen and cause serious harm to aquatic life. Farmers face a complex set of challenges to change a system that has been driven by market forces and government subsidies. We need to move away from intensive farming methods and mono cultures and it can be done.

On the programme ”Saving our Wild Isles  it showed Neil Heseltine, a Malham farmer, who has changed his ideas back to more traditional methods of mixed grazing to successfully produce food hand in hand with nurturing wildlife. He has had astonishing results with increase in biodiversity and the return of many insects, birds and wild flowers.

There are many conservation schemes to assist in this process.

• RSPB/Fair to Nature scheme
• Farm/Wildlife Partnership
• Nature Friendly Farming Network
• Peoples Plan for Nature
• Natural England Countryside Stewardship scheme
• Catchment Sensitive Farming Scheme

What can WE do?

• We have the POWER
• What we eat (and what we waste) has a direct influence  on decisions made on farms.
• Cut food waste..this will stop overproduction
• Choose organic and/or buy  from local producers. (eg. Holme Grown) or grow your own.
• Eat meat and dairy less.
• Don’t buy food that’s been farmed intensively.
• Talk to your local farmer and find out what they are doing to help the environment.
• Look out for RSPB”s Fair to Nature mark
• Pledge your support to the Peoples Plan for Nature

Embsay with Eastby Environmental Action Group