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New vision to get farming transition back on track in Somerset

The Wildlife Trusts has launched a vision for the future of food and farming — Food & Farming in a Nature & Climate Crises — stressing that the time is now to get the farming transition back on track.

Following the Government’s recent move to protect England’s nature-friendly farming budget in the Comprehensive Spending Review, The Wildlife Trusts argue that nature-friendly farming must move centre-stage as one of the most cost effective and efficient ways to reach nature recovery and climate targets across Somerset and vast swathes of the country. 

Nature-friendly farming benefits not just wildlife and farm businesses, but also works to reduce flooding risk, tackle climate change, clean up waterways and increase food security. Somerset Wildlife Trust maintain that the entire food system – including politicians, supermarkets, food producers and farmers – must therefore think long term about their support for a nature-positive and climate-resilient farming sector.  

The Food & Farming in a Nature & Climate Crisis vision shows how to get the farming transition back on track. Huge efforts are already underway, led by farmers, producers and suppliers, to harness the power of nature-friendly farming, including across Somerset's peatlands and arable landscapes, but Somerset Wildlife Trust say that action to address the nature and climate crisis across the farmed landscape must include: 

  • Facilitating support structures, guidance, and independent advice for farmers to transition to regenerative & agroecological farm systems  
  • Utilising both public and private finance, and technology and innovation, to supercharge nature-friendly farming practices and nature-based solutions
  • Policies to reform food supply chains, ensuring they reward farmers fairly for the food they produce in harmony with nature

James Grischeff, Director of Nature Recovery at Somerset Wildlife Trust, says: “The protection and recovery of wildlife in England is utterly dependent on land managers who are committed to producing sustainable food and nature-rich areas. Commitment to nature’s recovery has been demonstrated by a great many farmers in Somerset through showing good will and grit, but to sustain this effort they need sustainable businesses, supported by the people who benefit the most from their efforts: the public. The Government needs to recognise the value of nature to society and the role that farmers and land managers play in the protection and recovery of nature through well-funded, properly targeted schemes with integrated advice and training that recognise how important the countryside is and could be for both nature-friendly farming and land where nature is the primary objective.” 

Somerset Wildlife Trust argue that transformation of the food and farming system is more vital than ever as farmers are continuing to face a huge degree of uncertainty, battling the ever-increasing impacts of a changing climate and volatile markets. 

Read the Food & Farming in a Nature & Climate Crisis vision here. 

Editor's notes

Press Office

Images: Images are available via this DROPBOX. These are for one-off use only in connection with this story and The Wildlife Trusts. Photographers must be credited.  

Contact: Emily Weatherburn (Senior Communications Officer at Somerset Wildlife Trust) - emily.weatherburn@somersetwildlife.org / 07840 840737 

About Somerset Wildlife Trust

Somerset Wildlife Trust is a nature conservation charity. Its purpose is to restore and protect the populations of species across the county and the habitats they call home. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to nature, natural habitats and the ecosystems that support our life on earth.  Our aims are to help address both the ecological and climate crises and put nature back into people’s lives.  

Nature reserves and protected sites on their own are not enough. In order to reverse the decline in species diversity and abundance, and create resilient landscapes and habitats for wildlife and for people that can adapt to climate change, we need to:   

  • Encourage and support landowners to manage their land positively for nature; create more space for nature. 
  • Connect wildlife-rich spaces across the wider landscape to create a robust Nature Recovery Network for Somerset. 
  • Create a movement of people – at least 1 in 4 – that take action for nature’s recovery across Somerset as part of Team Wilder.   

This is at the core of our new 10-year strategy. Nationally the Wildlife Trusts are calling for at least 30% of land to be managed positively for nature by 2030. What we do in Somerset must contribute to that national ambition. You can read our full 10-year strategy, Wilder Somerset here.

About The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts are making the world wilder and helping to ensure that nature is part of everyone’s lives. We are a grassroots movement of 46 charities with more than 940,000 members and 35,000 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore over 2,000 special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. www.wildlifetrusts.org 

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