January 20, 2010 FARMLAND WILDLIFE CAMPAIGN IS FRONTED BY HAMPSHIRE MAN

A national three-year initiative encouraging farmers to boost farmland wildlife through positive land management practices is being fronted by a Hampshire man.

A national three-year initiative encouraging farmers to boost farmland wildlife through positive land management practices is being fronted by a Hampshire man. Peter Thompson, of Cheriton, will be working with farmers to help species as diverse as the brown hare, common frog and prickly poppy under the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) www.cfeonline.org.uk As the newly appointed coordinator for the Campaign in Hampshire, Peter will be helping farmers to take grassroots action. He is well known among the farming fraternity as an adviser for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, based at Fordingbridge in Hampshire, and delivering advice nationwide. Peter says: “This is a great opportunity for Hampshire farmers to lead the way, as they so often do, by creating new habitats for farmland birds and other wildlife, while at the same time ensuring that the soil and water on their farms is well protected. If we can all do our bit, not only can we have a flourishing working countryside, but we can also help farmers avoid greater regulation in the future.” The Campaign was launched in November 2009 by Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn, who agreed that the industry could take a voluntary approach to environmental management rather than Government imposing a compulsory measure to make farmers set aside land from production. Key industry bodies including the NFU and CLA (Country Land and Business Association), are working in a partnership with Defra and its agencies, Natural England and the Environment Agency, alongside conservation organisations such as the RSPB and Hampshire Wildlife Trust. NFU South East senior policy adviser Sandra Nichols says: “The Campaign aims to demonstrate that environmental work can work hand in hand with commercial farming. Peter’s practical experience, as well as his involvement in the development of the Campaign at a national level, will prove invaluable.” Ben Underwood, Assistant Regional Director of the CLA in the South East, explains: “The aim is to enhance the farmed environment in a way that does not compromise farm businesses and actually provides opportunities for the industry to show off the voluntary conservation work already being undertaken on many holdings. As Hampshire coordinator, Peter will organise local events on demonstration farms, provide guidance and ultimately will ensure the Campaign gains momentum, gaining the support of as many farmers and landowners in Hampshire as possible.” Peter Thompson is among 17 local coordinators driving forward the Campaign in the target areas – where arable farming predominates. In the South East these are:- Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire (taken as one area); Hampshire and Kent. Local ‘beacon’ farms are being selected to demonstrate how commercial farming and environmental management can work hand-in-hand. All target counties will have priorities for action that reflect the opportunities present in a particular area. The campaign runs until 2012 and all farmers are asked to help meet agreed national targets. High resolution images of Peter Thompson are available from isobel.bretherton@nfu.org.uk Tel: 01730 711956/07778 002617. Notes To Editors: 1. Visit www.cfeonline.org.uk to find out more about the Campaign targets, themes and voluntary measures All the Campaign partners are encouraging farmers to adopt, or continue, management practices that will help meet national targets between now and June 2012 to: • Support increased uptake of Entry-Level Stewardship (ELS) • Ensure that Entry-Level Stewardship agreements contain the right options in the right places to create important habitats for wildlife on farms • Retain a certain level of uncropped land (179,000 hectares across England) and seeking to improve the management of this land • Increase the level of voluntary environmental management undertaken by farmers by at least 30,000 hectares beyond the level that exists currently • Promote participation in environmental management with the aim of getting 60% of farmers not engaged in ELS to undertake some form of voluntary environmental management effort on their land

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