Hardly anyone had heard of sustainable farming 30 years ago. In just three decades, sustainability has become a major issue, the focus of endless debate, the spur for innovative ideas and soon it will be at the heart of how farmers in England are supported now that EU payments have ended.
I’m a second-generation tenant farmer, high on the Cotswold hills. Farming practices and attitudes have changed hugely since my Dad came here in the early 1960s. But I’m proud to say that we were early converts to the idea of crops and conservation working side by side. One area of the farm was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1996. The unimproved limestone grassland and scrub is home to two rare species: the Cotswold pennycress (a delicate whiteflowering plant) and the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
Bu hikaye BBC Countryfile Magazine dergisinin January 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye BBC Countryfile Magazine dergisinin January 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
FARMERS ARE THE ORIGINAL FIRST RESPONDERS
Across the country, a secret army is at work, coming to the rescue at times of crisis and springing into action when their communities are in danger.
Nicola Chester
Building more affordable homes is vital for the survival of rural communities
Hush... it's spring!
The colours and scents of spring are exhilarating after a long, gloomy winter, but to fully appreciate the power of the season, shut your eyes and listen, urges Ajay Tegala
In hope of a bright future for our national parks
At experts came the height of the Second World War, a group of remarkable together for the first time.
Wild London walks
From vast parks and ancient woods to overgrown graveyards and flower-banked canals, England's capital is filled with green surprises. Discover them on foot with six sensational London walks
The truth about dogs
As arookie dog owner, Cotswolds writer James Fair was overwhelmed with advice and dire warnings about how to care for his puppy. But how many of the often-repeated truths about canines are really myths?
TOP 10 ROMANTIC RUINS
For a thrilling encounter with history, fall in love with a crumbling castle or tumbledown church this spring, swoons Dixe Wills
THE GREAT SOLAR DEBATE
If developers have their way, miles of Oxfordshire farmland will soon be covered with solar panels. Many local people are opposed but how vital is this sustainable energy for our countryside? Andrew Griffiths investigates
DISCOVER 100 miles of heaven
Looking for an adventure? An intoxicating mix of rolling downland, sleepy hamlets and wave-hewn cliffs makes the South Downs Way one of Britain's loveliest walks. Dixe Wills reveals the highlights of six days on the trail
THE COMEBACK KITE
Once virtually extinct in Britain, a magnificent bird of prey now thrives in British skies. What went so right? Nicola Chester profiles the red kite