The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) expressed serious concerns that 40 per cent of farmers do not intend to participate in the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE), set up to retain the environmental benefits of the abolished set aside scheme, according to the latest Defra survey.

CPRE recognises that great efforts have been made by CFE partner organisations, including Government agencies, to provide advice, guidance and encouragement to farmers to contribute to the campaign’s goals but disappointingly many farmers still seem reluctant to participate.

The charity believes that unless there is a significant improvement in the farmer participation figures, the Government will need to start considering implementing compulsory measures to deliver the environmental benefits the campaign has promised, and which new Ministers have been very clear they want to see.

Ian Woodhurst, Senior Farming Campaigner for CPRE, says:

“No one wants more regulation but unless more farmers start doing their bit for the campaign we believe the Government will have no choice but to consider introducing compulsory measures. Ministers have been clear that they want food production and environmental protection to go hand in hand – now farmers need to show that they understand this message. Their participation is vital if landscape scale conservation is to become a reality.”