The Environment Act explained

Rye is surrounded by stunning countryside, much of it categorised as the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We also have ancient woodlands, beautiful beaches, river Rother catchment, and we live right next to the SSSI Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a nature-diverse local environment and we must not only ensure its protection, but also its recovery.

Growing environmental concerns as well as climate change has precipitated enormous changes in agriculture. In 2020, this Conservative government brought in the Agriculture Act – a “landmark moment for post-Brexit farming” (NFU) which enabled the UK to establish a new agricultural system based on rewarding farmers with public money for public goods, such as thriving wildlife, soil health, tackling the effects of climate change, and better air and water quality. This act was closely followed in 2021 by the world-leading Environment Act which is the most ambitious environmental programme of any country around the world, cleaning up our air and water, restoring our natural habitats and using our resources in a more environmentally beneficial way. The Environment Act has significant implications for agriculture and the legislation acknowledges the critical role agriculture plays in environmental stewardship and sustainable farming practices.

The Environment Act emphasises the need for sustainable land management, encouraging farmers to adopt environmentally friendly techniques such as precision farming, regenerative agriculture which improves soil health, and agroforestry. The shift towards sustainable agriculture promotes biodiversity conservation, reduces soil degradation and minimises the use of harmful fertilisers and pesticides.

The act also encourages collaboration between farmers, researchers and policymakers to develop innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture, so it was fantastic to meet the chairman of 1066 Farmers, Philip Merricks, last week at his farm in Icklesham, along with Trudy Harrison, the minister for the environment and another local farmer, who is forging ahead with regenerative grazing. 1066 Farmers is a farmer cluster group which covers over 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of land and was set up last year to enable farmers and land managers to collectively work together more cohesively to deliver greater benefits for soil, water and wildlife at a landscape scale. 1066 Farmers is helped by an advisor – a ‘facilitator’ – paid for through a government scheme.

There are lots of different approaches to landscape conservation and the meeting benefited not only the farmers but also the minister, discussing problems, solutions, best practice and, importantly what she can do to help our farmers in her ministerial role. The minister went away with a plan of action and a commitment to further engage with the farmer cluster. Farming in general has received flack from environmental groups like Animal Rebellion and our local farmers do not deserve this sort of abuse as they make a huge effort to provide the healthiest of food in an environmentally sustainable way. They need our support.

I was delighted to see the announcement on June 30 of round one of the Species Survival Fund as well as confirming funding for 48 responsible authorities, which includes East Sussex County Council, which have been formally appointed to lead preparation of local nature recovery strategies across the country. ESCC has been allocated £300,740 to prepare localised, tailored strategies to support and recover nature, using the best of local expertise in our wider community. It will work closely with farmers, landowners and managers.

Local nature recovery strategies have been designed to drive more coordinated, practical and focussed action to help recover nature. Delivery of the proposals in the strategies will not be directly required but will instead be encouraged by a combination of financial incentives, the support of local delivery partners and requirements on public bodies. Through the adoption of a more localised approach to nature recovery, local communities will have greater autonomy to identify areas to create, enhance and restore habitat to maximise environmental benefits, whilst operating within a national framework that will help join up our natural spaces and provide a means to share data and learnings across the country.

Restoring nature and sustainable agriculture locally can help combat climate change – restoring nature can help sequester – soak up – carbon as well as contributing to many other benefits. I am an advocate of nature-based solutions to climate change because unlike green or environmental taxes, they cost little to the ordinary person in the street. Currently, nature-based solutions are financed by public and philanthropic funding but accelerating and catalysing private sector investment is key in meeting the goals of our 25-year environment plan and net zero emissions target.

When healthy, our natural environmental habitats can also improve water quality, health and well-being, help prevent coastal erosion and reduce the risk of flooding. Put simply, nature is a ‘no-brainer’ for climate action.

Image Credits: Chris Lawson .