• according to the Countryside Survey 1990 the length of stone walls decreased by 10% between 1984 - 1990 and 23% of hedges were lost;
• the Countryside Survey also found that there were 30% fewer plant species in arable fields in 1990 than in 1978;
• it has been estimated that up to 15% of arable land in England and Wales is at risk of soil erosion in some years;
• in 1993, pesticides accounted for 73% of breaches in drinking water quality standards in England and Wales;
• from 1970 - 1990, populations of 24 out of 28 farmland bird species contracted;
• the number of lakes and ponds in Great Britain has decreased from 470,000 to 330,000 from 1945 - 1990, mostly as a result of changing agricultural practices.

• there needs to be a significant increase in spending on green farming schemes (e.g. Environmentally Sensitive Areas (EASs) and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme) which offer payments to farmers for positive environmental management. In 1996 - 1997 expenditure on the Common Agricultural Policy was £3,000m, with only 3% if this being spent on agri-environment schemes;
• environmental conditions should be attached to all direct payments received by farmers (also known as cross compliance). At present, there are limited conditions attached to livestock payments and set-aside payments. CPRE's view is that farmers should protect the environmental quality of the land for which they receive compensation payments;
• there is a need for a strategic approach to the conservation, protection and enhancement of the countryside that integrates the various policy mechanisms (such as legislation, cross-compliance and incentives) to increase the efficient and effective use of resources;
• there needs to be a substantial reform of European rural and agricultural policy that places integrated rural development at its core, widens the recipient base away from farmers alone and creates opportunities for the quality and diversity of the countryside to be used to add value to commercial land management activity;
• there is a need for increased local influence over agricultural and European rural policy and spending. Regional Agri-environment Consultation Groups established by the Government are a step in the right direction but need to be given greater influence on local implementation of the agri-environment programme;
• increased local influence over agricultural policy through the decentralisation and regionalisation of agri-environmental and rural development policy;
• a significant increase in protection should be given to rural land in the planning system and by introduction of strategic environmental assessment for major agricultural land use change;
• a new approach to food, farming and the environment is needed. Consumers need to be more aware of the environmental impacts of their consumption decisions and the prices they pay should reflect the full environmental costs of the production methods used;
• a new relationship between the food retail sector and the farming community to improve the impact upon farming practices and therefore upon the environment.

• contact MAFF regional offices to have an input into the implementation of agri-environment schemes;
• urge local authorities to incorporate agricultural issues into their development plans; e.g. the need to take account of environmental land management schemes and protect farmland;
• find out if there are any local authority environmental management schemes in the area and what they are. If there are none, find out why not;
• publicise local examples of good environmental farm schemes;
• encourage local farmers to open up their farms for National Farm Walk Week and encourage people to attend. This is run each year in June by the National Farmers' Union.

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