麻豆约拍

鈥淧olicy and targets are inadequate to address plummeting biodiversity loss, made worse by nature policy not being joined up across Government鈥� - Those are the stinging criticisms made by MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee after assessing the Government鈥檚 plans to protect England鈥檚 wildlife and countryside. Despite promises to 鈥榣eave the countryside in a better state鈥� for the next generation, the group of cross-party MPs said the Government鈥檚 25 Year Environment Plan does not provide sufficient direction to do this.

Despite only 6% of farmland in Wales currently dedicated to arable, on the West coast it鈥檚 ideal for barley, and new opportunities are opening up for barley growers supplying the food and drink industry. We find out about new whisky distillery working with farmers in the area.

We鈥檝e heard a lot about the shortage of pickers on farms around the country over the last few years, but farmers have been very resourceful in the way they are coping. We visit Belvoir Farm in Leicestershire, where they grow organic elderflowers to make cordial. They pay members of the local community to pick their flowers and also gather more from nearby hedgerows.

And we can announce the finalists in the Farming Today "Farming for the Future Award" - part of the 麻豆约拍鈥檚 Food and Farming Awards.

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for 麻豆约拍 Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons