BBC Countryfile

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by watsthat

I thought the part about farmers working with wildlife bodies very interesting last night. They portrayed a very pro-active farmer, (on the south coast I think), and touched upon financial/other incentives but didn`t really get round to stating the actual benefit to the farmer. I get the impression that farmers such as the one portrayed, are actually involved in conservation for love and not money. I live in an intensely farmed area (Yorkshire Wolds) and don`t see much slack cut for wildlife.

Cheers

Pete

Hi Pete, I have done quite a lot of work in the past (and still do) in the Yorkshire Wolds, writing management plans, carrying out surveys and helping submit applications for stewardship. There are quite a large number of farms within the area which are part of HLS or ELS environmental schemes. Some of the farmers are fantastic and really push the boat out as much as they can, the others are in it for the money (which is understandable its their job). The farmer receives financial subsidies for the amount of land which is out of production. They are also paid to manage hedgerows for wildlife, install ponds, create woodland and such like. Unfortunately due to cut this has taken a bit of a down turn, with less farms being able to do it, although the current ones are mostly on long term contracts.

[watsthat]

Thats interesting Dan; I wish there was more local publicity given to successful wildlife collaborations. I for one would be keen to learn more about local farms who are making a difference and the progress of local species threatened or otherwise. The wildlife perspective becomes an increasingly depressing subject for me, esp; when most of the news is bad news and when I can see with my own eyes the realtively rapid deterioration in numbers (particularly of birds), in the area.

Cheers

Pete

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by watsthat

I thought the part about farmers working with wildlife bodies very interesting last night. They portrayed a very pro-active farmer, (on the south coast I think), and touched upon financial/other incentives but didn`t really get round to stating the actual benefit to the farmer. I get the impression that farmers such as the one portrayed, are actually involved in conservation for love and not money. I live in an intensely farmed area (Yorkshire Wolds) and don`t see much slack cut for wildlife.

Cheers

Pete

Watching that feature last night I couldn't help but think that, combined with the earlier one with Adam the farmer getting 'excited' about badgers on his land, it is in response to compliants aboutwhat has been seen by many as Adam's pro badger cull comments over the last year or so.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Watching that feature last night I couldn't help but think that, combined with the earlier one with Adam the farmer getting 'excited' about badgers on his land, it is in response to compliants aboutwhat has been seen by many as Adam's pro badger cull comments over the last year or so.

Personally I feel that's unfair. Adam has always been passionate about the wildlife on his farm. Given the loss of cattle to bovine TB he has endured on his farm I feel he has always given a fairly balanced approach to pro/anti badger cull.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Personally I feel that's unfair. Adam has always been passionate about the wildlife on his farm. Given the loss of cattle to bovine TB he has endured on his farm I feel he has always given a fairly balanced approach to pro/anti badger cull.

To be fair I did say "what has been seen by many as Adam's pro badger cull comments over the last year or so. "

Whatever you yourself think, there is a large body of people that think bTB issue is not presented fairly on the programme, biased towards the pro view of the target farmer audience.

The episode that stick in my mind is the one where he had his cattle re tested after having one of his bulls testing postive previously. He mentioned some people were against the cull but didn't say anything to support there view before saying "and something has to be done." He skipped over the test being not being 100% accurate and the fact it was possible the bTB didn't come from the badgers. That said since this episode I have only watched it on and of but all the episodes I've seen recently have said the cull is scientifically supported, something that is at least controversial.

[stevecurtis]

Watsthat I agree 100% most things I read on conservation are depressing, there must be some interesting happy endings out their somewhere, and my local farmer works very hard on the conservation side, where can we start a thread on wildlife happy days.

All the best Steve

[Deb London]

In the General Wildlfe forum I imagine. Give it a whirl.

[Brocakat]

Originally Posted by rogpow

Try this:

Bizarre Countryfile finalists

Rog

Thanks, rogpow.