Ffinlo Costain

The UK’s self-sufficiency in 10 out of 11 everyday foods, such as wheat, vegetables, beef, poultry meat and eggs have fallen in the last 30 years, a new report from the NFU reveals. At the same time, the country’s reliance on imported food continues to grow, with agri-food import volumes up 70% over the period while export volumes have stalled. With 93% of British households agreeing that it’s important to maintain or increase UK food self-sufficiency, the public’s message is clear.

Recently published reports on two farmer-led conservation groups, supported by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), are a rare, evidence-based success story for nature recovery. The results of 10 years of wildlife monitoring clearly demonstrate how coordinated action across whole landscapes can reverse the long-term decline of some of England’s most threatened farmland birds.