Rural View

The latest rural news for August 2024

The latest rural news for April 2024

Experts believe biodiversity net gain is the biggest change to planning legislation in our lifetime – what does is mean for landowners?

The latest rural news for February 2024

The latest rural news for December 2023

The latest rural news for October 2023

The latest rural news for August 2023

The latest rural news for June 2023

Our latest research on the introduction of BNG to Local Plans in England

January is usually a month for planning the year ahead – a chance to think about objectives and projects you’d like to tackle. Opportunities for farmers and estate owners to do this within their businesses are, however...

The rain has finally arrived for many landowners – perhaps not sufficient to refill all reservoirs and re-balance the drought conditions seen over the past six months, but enough to give autumn-sown crops the enthusiasm to progress before winter.

After one of the earliest and fastest harvests many farmers will have ever experienced, there has been a long gap to fill before cereal crops are drilled. During that time, there has been plenty else going on – a new Prime Minister, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II just two days later, and a turbulent budget

From long-awaited government schemes and soaring milk sales to stormy weather and ‘friendly language’, this month’s Rural View News in Brief mops up some of the key headlines farmers and landowners may have missed over the past few weeks.

A budget, more trade deals, COP26 and the small matter of a global pandemic; there is seemingly no end to the big decisions being made which will have a significant impact on the people who live and work in the countryside.

At the time of writing, those landowners who are trying to bring in the harvest are enduring a stop-start affair. Cereal crops – which were already late to ripen – are now being cut at a fairly slow pace.

With summer recess fast approaching, there has been a flurry of government announcements. We’ve seen more details emerge on how landowners will access support payments under the Sustainable Farming Initiative, while animal welfare has been firmly in the spotlight.

Has spring sprung, or are we still stuck in winter? Every day feels different at the moment, as a semblance of normality appears on the horizon.

After a welcome drink for crops, lawns and flowers, the landscape is finally beginning to resemble something like a typical May scene.

2020 was a year like no other

When our last email reached you, we didn’t know whether the early May showers would give way to sunshine or stick around to redress the balance after an arid April.

As spring begins to show signs of emerging