Farming Today

02/02/26 Scottish Environment Bill, Ramblers report, new entrants.


Listen Later

Scotland has introduced legislation to set legal targets on nature restoration and halt the loss of biodiversity. The Scottish Government says this will ensure that the country is 'on a bold ambitious journey to be nature positive by 2030'. The Natural Environment bill, which was passed by the Scottish parliament last week, also gives ministers new powers over land use and deer management.

The right to roam in Scotland, which gives people access rights, is being 'hollowed out' by a lack of money according to a new report from the walkers’ group Ramblers Scotland. It says that some of the essential infrastructure needed to ensure the rights of both walkers and land managers has disappeared, with too few local staff to handle issues when people don't stick to the rules, and not enough money spent on maintaining paths.

All week we're talking about new entrants: the people who come into farming with no family farm to work on, or inherit. The vast majority of farmers who own land pass it on to other members of the family, so it can be hard for people from outside the industry to get hold of land. Land is expensive too, which forms another barrier. Tenant farms where all or some of the land is rented make up about a third of farmland in England, but getting a tenancy is hard work and again requires some capital. One rural charity, The Addington Fund, has set up a new new entrant scheme to help people get a foot on the farming ladder.

Presenter = Charlotte Smith

Producer = Rebecca Rooney

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Farming TodayBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

54 ratings


More shows like Farming Today

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,860 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,107 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

374 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,072 Listeners

Wake Up to Money by BBC Radio 5 Live

Wake Up to Money

54 Listeners

Money Box by BBC Radio 4

Money Box

42 Listeners

The Martin Lewis Podcast by BBC Radio 5 Live

The Martin Lewis Podcast

64 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,511 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,888 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,068 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

281 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

263 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

256 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

163 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

36 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

107 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

264 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,217 Listeners

The Missing Cryptoqueen by BBC Sounds

The Missing Cryptoqueen

1,064 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

777 Listeners

The Farmers Weekly Podcast by Farmers Weekly

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

12 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,045 Listeners