Packed house at Oxford Farming Conference today - and no wonder.
Farmers shared powerful, real‑world stories of nature‑restoring agriculture delivering hope, resilience and better livelihoods.
Proof that farming working with nature just makes sense.
RETURN
From extinction to reintroduction, our new film charts the 50-year fight to return White-tailed Eagles to our skies.
Coming Summer 2025.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_A7...
Whoop, this is a wonderful campaign win. Now momentum for nature-friendly farming can really build.
A headline from The Guardian reads: “Fund for nature-friendly farming to be slashed in UK spending review.” Below it, a line of bright green tractors ploughs wide, bare furrows into a large field. The image underscores the scale of UK farming and the warning that vital support for restoring nature is about to be cut.
The warning couldn’t be clearer. ⚠️
Slashing the nature-friendly farming budget would be catastrophic for the nature and climate crisis, and for our long-term food security.
What's more, it would leave the UK Government’s credibility on climate and nature in tatters.
A group of campaigners from the RSPB and partner organisations stand in front of the Houses of Parliament, holding bold signs calling for support for nature-friendly farming. One sign reads “Nature can’t afford a pay cut!” while others say “Farm with nature” and “To grow food, we need nature.” Three people wear oversized bird head costumes, and at the centre, a young woman holds a box showing the petition total: 106,744 signatures. The mood is determined and urgent, highlighting public support for protecting nature’s farming budget.
We’ve just delivered a message to Downing Street, backed by over 100,000 of you.‼️
Farmers, NGOs and the public are standing together to demand action.
UK Government, this is a call you can't afford to ignore.
Any cut now would be a disaster for farming and nature.
Bold graphic with a bright lime green heading that reads: “Three massive costs nature-friendly farming could cut”. The background illustration shows rolling hills, a flying bird, and wildflowers.
Three massive costs the UK could cut - if we back nature-friendly farming.
Let’s talk about the billions we’re wasting, and how investing in nature is the smarter choice.
A thread... 🧵
Seems to be a lot of unity here at #OFC25 - we need a future for food, farmers, nature & climate. Steve Reed MP put it like this to the tune of tractors' horns outside "Restoring nature is not in competition to sustainable food production, but essential to it"
"Scientists studying this abandoned land found that wild pollinators decreased by 60%-70%, and the number of birds halved" - but where there's human presence it's less bleak - with some human created landscapes having a heck of a lot more value than others!
In my eco angst I find hope in the power of nature to rewild itself and the power of humans to unite in crisis - this article drives home it's got to be both together. 'It will require human intention, neglect is not enough'. Fascinating @tessairini.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/news/2024/no...
In Scotland last week I went to a farm peatland restoration project, a no-till farm, RSPB Loch Leven & had a tour of the Scottish Parliament (& a Christmas Market & a Ceilidh). Tiring, icy, but so so heartening to see landscapes being restored and democracy in action. #lovescotland
One unwanted thing in @bsky.app I didn't get on X is a couple of men have texted 'hello pretty' & 'I wouldn't trade your smile for anything' etc. I can easily block them & exit the conversation which is great. Thought about changing my photo, but not for them! Guessing others have had this too?
Sofonisba Anguissola, baroque painter, died #onthisday in 1625 at the ripe old age of 93.
At a time when women were not encouraged or supported in the arts, she made her living as a court painter, and impressed both Michelangelo and Van Dyck.
Charles Moore Rachel Reeves’s attack on the family farm is a recipe for a latter-day peasants’ revolt Inheritance tax changes which threaten the rural way of life have the potential to create a coalition of the discontented
Moore has more claim to being a historian than I do, but I don’t think that the original peasants’ revolt was to do with inheritance tax on ownership of substantial amounts of land.
Someone asked if I'm proud of my son who's just started at a good university. Of course. But what made me cry tears of proudmumness was when he told me that after clubbing, twice, he gave money and sat with homeless people, and he's now volunteering at a soup kitchen #rightpriorities 🥹
I'm so glad I never got around to buying that Tesla I wanted - for ethical reasons, obviously.
I know, part of me is definitely thinking I should give myself a break and just enjoy the good company! But I want to sit and eat - and talk better- with people who think differently too. I've a few of those in my family!
🧵There's a line of thought that Trump's victory means progressive causes are doomed in the court of public opinion. I don't think that's true, but I do think it shows more thought needs to be given to what ought to be a tautology but infact often isn't - inclusive progressivism.
Searched for 'books like Lessons in Chemistry' & this Gabrielle Zevin one came up. Having nagged kids to stop gaming, it was refreshingly eye opening. Afterwards I kept wondering how the characters were doing. Can't take an actual photo of my copy because already passed it on! Signs of a #goodbook.
Bit worried I've just jumped hook line and sinker into my own echo chamber.
Have to admit it feels nice.
Also a bit uncomfortable.
I'll give it a chance, though.
