Government seeks views to improve hedgerow protections - Defra
Consultation launched to help meet commitment to support farmers to create or restore 45,000 miles of hedgerows by 2050.
Plans to better support farmers to protect hedgerows outside of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have been set out by government today (28 June).
Hedgerows bring a wealth of environmental benefits, acting as wildlife corridors to help halt species decline, slowing soil erosion and water run-off, supporting crop pollinators for food production, and taking carbon out of the atmosphere.
A consultation launched today (Wednesday 28 June) seeks views on how we can ensure hedgerows continue to get the right level of protection as we move away from cross compliance – the rules farmers have to comply with to receive direct payments under the CAP - and put in place new legislation tailored to the needs and best interests of English farmers.
The new legislation will benefit from the increased flexibility we have outside of the bureaucratic Common Agricultural Policy to improve how farm regulations work so they are clearer, more proportionate and effective for farmers. This will be key to meeting the commitment in the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan to support farmers to create or restore 30,000 miles of hedgerows by 2037 and 45,000 miles of hedgerows by 2050.
Protecting hedgerows in England, defra open consultation
We want to know how we can best protect hedgerows through effective, proportionate regulation as we phase out farm subsidies and cross compliance rules. As we replace the EU’s land-based subsidies with our new farming schemes, we also move away from cross compliance rules. We’re seeking views on the best way to maintain and improve existing protections, as well as how we enforce them.
The consultation closes at: 11:59pm on 20 September 2023. Take part here.
More on:
Posted On: 28/06/2023