The council passed a motion setting clear strategic goals for nature’s recovery by 2030, and one of their aims focuses on working with farmers to improve biodiversity - a goal farmers are already working towards by implementing new and sustainable strategies on farm to feed the country and benefit the environment.
Wakely Cox, NFU Dorset chair, said: “We have written to the council and are pleased that they want to work with us so we can continue the good work farmers are already doing looking after the environment, enhancing it alongside producing local, traceable, high-quality food for the country.
Green and pleasant lands
“We all want to maintain our green and pleasant lands here in Dorset and farmers across the county are doing all they can to care for the environment while doing what we need on farm to keep feeding the nation.
“Dorset farmers are already implementing techniques on their farms to benefit the environment alongside their day-to-day farming planting hedges and trees, putting in seed mixes for birds and pollinators and doing many other positive things to bolster biodiversity.
“In the Poole Harbour area in particular, farmers have changed what they are doing to enhance the environment and look after the land.
“I’m pleased the council has retained the use of glyphosate where necessary especially on grass verges as it is the most efficient and cost-effective way of tackling weeds if used in a responsible manner.
“I think the future for the wellbeing of our environment is a positive one – I’m out in the fields every day and the wildlife is abundant without any evidence that nature is depleted.”
“I’m disappointed that there is no mention of farming being part of the answer to the council’s declaration of a ‘nature emergency’. ”
Dorset farmer George Hosford
Encouraging more diversity
George Hosford farms near Blandford Forum with his brother Dougal and nephew Fred where they have embraced the use of innovative techniques as part of their efforts to encourage more diversity on farm in order to benefit the health of the soil, crops and beef cattle herd.
The Hosfords started introducing herbal leys onto the farm five years ago in an effort to increase diversity, giving their 70 cows more plant variety to graze while improving the health of the soil.
“In the Poole Harbour area in particular, farmers have changed what they are doing to enhance the environment and look after the land,” said George.
“I’m pleased the council has retained the use of glyphosate where necessary especially on grass verges as it is the most efficient and cost-effective way of tackling weeds if used in a responsible manner.
“I think the future for the wellbeing of our environment is a positive one – I’m out in the fields every day and the wildlife is abundant without any evidence that nature is depleted.”
Farming ‘part of the answer’
Most of the sowing on the 800 hectares of farmland is no-till, meaning the soil is disturbed as little as possible and bare land is minimised by the use of multi-species cover crops at every opportunity to protect soil from harsh weather conditions and to lock up nitrogen in the ground before winter.
They grow six metre wild flower margins around fields and sometimes across them and are rejuvenating and planting new hedges.
George added: “Nature has taken a battering from many historic farming methods, as well as from house and road building, sewage pollution of rivers and the endless stream of delivery vans flying all across the country, but I’m disappointed that there is no mention of farming being part of the answer to the council’s declaration of a ‘nature emergency’.
“Many farmers are doing fantastic work to bring back nature into the countryside – they are re-discovering the value of providing new habitat for the natural predators of crop pests, of growing crops that fix their own fertiliser from the atmosphere and are paying more attention to soil health, and much of this is encouraged by the newly introduced Sustainable Farming Incentives now on offer from Defra.”
Developing nature strategies
The motion also recognised the council’s role as the responsible authority for the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Dorset – a spatial strategy which plans, maps and creates priorities for nature within the county.
NFU South environment and land use adviser Hattie Severinsen said: “The NFU has been working with responsible authorities across the country on the development of the LNRSs.
“In Dorset, there was a farmer engagement meeting back in the winter hosted by Dorset Council which I’m pleased to say was well attended by members.
“There have since been ongoing conversations with Dorset Council and the wider LNRS steering group to ensure farmers’ voices are heard in the development of the strategy.
“Farmers in Dorset are well engaged and embracing nature friendly, sustainable farming and in many cases this includes the use of plant protection products where required – these are a vital tool in farmers’ toolboxes.
“The NFU is keen to continue working with Dorset Council on the LNRS to ensure that farmers are fairly represented. This will support positive and achievable outcomes for our natural environment.”