Majority of public think countryside needs more funding

The CLA is running a campaign which aims to unite people who love the countryside
The CLA is running a campaign which aims to unite people who love the countryside

A new survey released shows that 8 out of 10 people (84%) think the Government should spend money on preserving and managing the countryside.

YouGov surveyed more than 1500 for rural organisation the CLA to highlight public support for continued investment in the countryside post-Brexit.

The survey also says 61% of the public say that the current spend of £3 billion per year is either the right amount of public money to spend on it (40%) or too little (21%).

Just over a quarter (27%) said the landscape was the feature they most enjoy about visiting the countryside and just under half (44%) knew that farmers and landowners are responsible for managing it.

42% of people surveyed thought food production should be one of the top priorities for government investment in the countryside with flood management, enhancing wildlife and planting trees coming close behind.

Love the countryside

The CLA is running a campaign which aims to unite people who love the countryside and believe investing in it should remain a national priority for the UK Government.

The results of the survey are due to be unveiled at BBC Countryfile Live on 3 August.

CLA President Ross Murray said it is reassuring to see that the countryside matters to so many of the Great British public.

He said: “Our survey has shown a ringing endorsement of how important investing in the countryside is so that we can continue to eat nutritious and wholesome food, breathe clean air and enjoy a rich diversity of wildlife.

“Managing the landscape, producing quality food and planting trees bring benefits to every person who lives in, works in, or enjoys visiting our countryside. But these benefits require investment.

“We have a unique opportunity post-Brexit to ensure farmers and landowners are better recognised for undertaking this vital work.

Land Management Contract

The CLA has set out a vision for a Land Management Contract as a new way of delivering public money more cost-effectively to reward land managers for a wide range of public benefits

t wants to end the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which has in the past been criticised due to the fact it pays farmers and landowners based on the amount of land they farm.

He continued: “We will be promoting the contract to the Government over the coming months to help develop a new food, farming and environmental policy.”