Revolutionary 'Future Countryside' Conference Puts People at the Centre of Rural Policy

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By Sarah Lee, Future Countryside

Group of delegates around a table at a conference with one woman speaking into a microphone — Delegates at the Future Countryside launch (Future Countryside)

In a groundbreaking move, The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF) launched a significant new initiative called Future Countryside in June. The primary objective of this initiative was to establish a platform where individuals passionate about rural Britain could exchange perspectives and engage with decision-makers. This exceptional event, graciously hosted by The Marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield House, brought together over 200 experts in farming, conservation, and land use, along with politicians from major political parties.

The purpose was to transcend differences and forge a collective vision for a modern countryside, focusing on the incredible opportunities that this natural resource offers to everyone. The countryside can serve as a place for rejuvenation, tackling climate change and energy security, and, of course, cultivating high-quality food. The event aimed to place rural communities at the core of these solutions, rather than treating them as inconvenient appendages or part of the problem.

Future Countryside was conceived by Julian Glover, Chairman of the Government's Landscapes Review, and Nick Herbert (Lord Herbert of South Downs), Chairman of the Countryside Alliance. They were supported by a Steering Committee comprising distinguished rural figures. While the Oxford Farming Conference has become an important annual event for the agricultural sector, and there are other specialised gatherings, this marked the first time a major conference specifically dedicated to the countryside was organised.

A man standing at a podium during a conference — Nick Herbert, Co-Chair of Future Countryside (Future Countryside)

To set the stage for the day, exclusive polling and focus groups were commissioned specifically for Future Countryside. These research efforts revealed that the British public takes immense pride in the countryside, ranking it second only to the National Health Service (NHS) and considering it an integral part of the national heritage. However, the findings also highlighted that people believe it is crucial to safeguard the countryside, but they hold pessimistic views regarding its condition in the future. Moreover, they harbour limited faith in the rural policies of any major political party.

The conference commenced with keynote speeches from former Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart and former lead Non-Executive Director of Defra and food expert Henry Dimbleby. The Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey MP, unveiled the Government's action plan, titled 'Unleashing Rural Opportunity,' reminding the audience that "the countryside is the bedrock of our island story." Lord Mandelson cautioned the Labour Party against alienating rural voters, and contributions were also made by Defra Minister Lord (Richard) Benyon, Shadow Minister Daniel Zeichner MP, as well as experts such as Professor Baroness Kathy Willis and Dame Fiona Reynolds, former Director General of the National Trust.

However, what made Future Countryside truly exceptional was its commitment to engaging attendees in the key issues of the day, rather than solely featuring prominent speakers. As the discussions unfolded, often highlighting the challenging dilemmas faced by the countryside, several common themes emerged.

Two people on stage holding microphones during a conference — Julian Glover, Co-Chair Future Countryside with the Environment Secretary Therese Coffey MP (Future Countryside)

If we aspire to have a healthy countryside that promotes the nation's well-being and serves as a healing sanctuary, we must also consider the impact of biodiversity on human health. This presents a clear opportunity for farmers to contribute to improving the health and well-being of the population.

To achieve a productive countryside that flourishes both economically and environmentally, we need to conserve natural resources, support local agriculture, and invest in the rural landscape. This will create long-term economic opportunities that will safeguard the countryside for future generations.

To cultivate a vibrant countryside, we must strive to enhance its liveability, workability, and investment potential. Nurturing local economies becomes pivotal in this pursuit. If we encourage entrepreneurship, provide access to funding, and foster partnerships between businesses and rural communities, we can transform rural areas into hubs for innovative industries like agribusiness and eco-tourism. However, this must be accompanied by efforts to improve rural infrastructure, including broadband and transportation networks.

The Future Countryside event exuded a positive energy and fostered a strong willingness among all participants to collaborate and exchange ideas, reflecting a shared ambition to shape the future of the countryside. One delegate described the event as "seminal." A comprehensive report will be compiled and submitted to politicians and policymakers, and there is already a clear inclination to sustain this initiative—be sure to watch out for Future Countryside 2024!

Find out more at www.futurecountryside.org or email info@futurecountryside.org