Globally, a quarter of all mammal species are currently threatened with extinction. One of the key reasons for this is because their natural habitats are converted to farmland for food production. In our seas, river and lakes, 35% of fish stocks are being overfished at unsustainable levels.

In the UK, intensive agriculture is the biggest driver of nature’s decline and the most significant polluter of our waterways.

Yet the destruction of nature and the impacts of climate change are the biggest threats to food security in the UK. The nature and climate crises are inseparable and tackling them can only be done together.

Food production relies on healthy soils, clean water, and resilience to climate change. 

Restoring nature on farms will bring many benefits, not just for wildlife but also for farmers. Working with nature can increase farm profits and resilience, reduce costs, and maintain or even improve yields.

We are calling on all political parties to increase the budget for wildlife-friendly farming, halve pesticide use and help farmers adapt to climate change.

Intensive agriculture is too often unsustainable, but with management of over 70% of UK land, farmers should be a significant part of the solution.

BBOWT works with farmers across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire who prove that wildlife-friendly farming is possible and profitable. Read about our project on our own land to demonstrate how farming can be more wildlife-friendly.

Agriculture policy does not have to choose between food production or wildlife. Farming that works with nature makes sense – for now and for the future. Make sure that your local candidates are committed to making this a reality, and, whatever way you vote in the upcoming General Election, remember to vote for nature.

You can read more about regenerative farming here.