Dorset farms 'let down' by decision to close green fund
SFI pays farmers in England to manage land to protect soil, restore hedgerows and boost nature recovery.The government said it had been a success, with 37,000 funding agreements agreed.
The CRT said the work at Bere Marsh Farm was to include floodplain meadow restoration, species-rich grassland management and restoration, as well as general hedge management and maintenance of the areas between fields for barn owls.Helena Darragh, the trust's head of conservation, said: "The floodplain meadow one is the real frustration, given that 97% of floodplain meadows have gone since 1960s."Babers' application would have included restoration towards species-rich grassland at Harmshay and hedgerow management."Those are the critical habitat management works, which we will either have to self-fund, not do for a year or more, or find alternative ways of supporting."
'Deeply disappointing'
Elaine Spencer-White, farm manager at Bere Marsh Farm, said seasonal work had already been carried out at the site to meet the funding requirements. "Now the funding has been withdrawn, the charity will have to cover the costs, which will, in turn, prevent us undertaking other projects to improve sustainability on the farm," she explained.She said the work was carried out in "good faith"."Something else will now have to be sacrificed, which is deeply disappointing," she said."If farmers are being encouraged to adopt more sustainable practices, they can't do it without the necessary funding."Head of Estates Kerriann McLackland said the lack of funds would mean bearing the cost of "nature friendly farming directly from charitable funds, meaning we are less able to do things such as educational work".
The government has said it is still committed to paying £5bn over two years for sustainable farming and nature recovery work.It added that a "new and improved" SFI, with a capped budget, would be set up, but details would not be announced until later in the year.
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Scotsman
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BBC News
a day ago
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Holyhead Port to reopen fully after Storm Darragh damage
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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
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ACT encourages businesses to sign employer pledge
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