Taking time to protect wildlife.

Byline: Karen Dent

THE voluntary agreement that aims to continue the environmental benefits of set-aside goes live today. The three-year Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) is bringing together farmers, land managers and the Government as the industry-led approach to retaining the habitats that were previously protected by EU regulations.

A string of Beacon Farms have been chosen across the UK to show how the campaign is working in practice. It will initially aim to extend and enhance the environmental benefits provided by existing stewardship schemes in 17 target counties.

The campaign is launched today at NFU president Peter Kendall's farm in Bedfordshire, where he is due to be joined by Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president Henry Aubrey-Fletcher and Defra Secretary Hilary Benn.

Mr Kendall said: "This is all about delivering a culture change in both farming practices and the way we approach regulation. Although it's the most ambitious campaign farming has ever faced, the whole industry, from suppliers and advisers to farmers and landowners, is absolutely committed to making it work.

"The alternative is having the regulatory option forced upon us which will no doubt bring with it more red tape and cost to farmers and growers.

"We all have a part to play in making sure this campaign works. All farms have wildlife, natural resources and farmland birds that need protecting and no-one cares more for the land than our farmers, growers and landowners. They know that a healthy environment is vital for a sustainable future; one in which we can grow more but impact less."

The CFE wants all farmers and land managers to renew existing Entry Level Stewardship schemes, then to choose at least one in-field option and to adopt at least one voluntary measure to meet the campaign's targets.

Local liaison groups have been set up in the 17 target counties to provide guidance. Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Cumbria are not included in those counties, which have received Government money to drive the scheme forward. But the NFU is encouraging North East farms to adopt the campaign's principles.

However, North, East and South Yorkshire are among the target counties and Stokesley farmer Robert Campbell, Goole farmer Ian Backhouse and Doncaster farmer Russell Toothill have been appointed as local campaign champions.

The scheme is being spearheaded by the NFU and the CLA, but there are a range of partner organisations involved, including Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Natural England, the Environment Agency and the RSPB.

CAPTION(S):

SAFE Lapwings are among the wildlife farmers can help protect. Right, NFU president Peter Kendall.