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Trust Goes Greener To Make Farms Cleaner

National Trust insists on more organic approach to farming

Squall Download 2, Dec-1999/Jan-2000, pg. 9.

The National Trust will be insisting that farmers working on its land pay more attention to “green” farming practices following the publication of a policy document in early November.

In ‘Agriculture - 2000 and beyond’, the Trust states: “Our objective for the 21st century is to provide benefits to the nation through the sustainable production of a wide range of goods from our land. These include biodiversity, scenic beauty, historic features, cultural and social benefits, environmental quality as well as wholesome, marketable food. Agriculture must embrace the responsible stewardship of soils, air and water in order to move towards sustainability.”

The new initiative includes an encouragement towards organic farming and more conservation-friendly farming practices which, the Trust say, will benefit cash strapped farmers as well as the environment by broadening their range of incomes.

”We believe there is a way out of the current crisis in agriculture founded on a more integrated approach to farming, the environment and the public benefits provided by our countryside,” said David Riddle, the head of the National Trust’s land agency.

The move is an acknowledgement that organic farming and produce sales are booming whilst the rest of British agriculture is in the worst crisis of living memory. The National Trust runs Britain’s largest agricultural estate, with 700 tenant farmers occupying 367,000 acres of land under its stewardship.