Farmers exercising the right-of-way relish it: "Farming can be lonely... it's enjoyable when strangers pass through the property"
In the heart of the Chilterns, the Hardwick estate warmly welcomes visitors, setting a precedent for a growing movement towards integrating public access with sustainable farming practices. This shift is led by forward-thinking landowners like the Willoughbys and farmers such as Jane Wheatley, who have embraced this approach to land management.
Jane Wheatley, a former staff editor and writer at The Times, now contributes to our platform and The Sydney Morning Herald. She is also a farmer who took on a 388-acre farm near Loughborough, Leicestershire. A bridleway runs through her farmyard, and she has created several permissive paths across her land, fostering a closer relationship between her farm and the public.
However, her application to re-route the bridleway was refused. Undeterred, the local community stepped up, with neighbours regularly visiting to water the dying trees during a heatwave in the summer of 2020, setting a precedent for community involvement.
This movement towards opening up land for public access aligns with government priorities, as evidenced by the substantial funding (£150 million in grants) aimed at enabling farmers to transition towards more nature-sensitive farming methods. These methods often include provisions for public access and improved environmental outcomes.
Guy Thallon, the head of natural environment at Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, advocates for financial incentives for landowners to create new public access through environmental stewardships schemes. Castle Howard, a 8,896-acre estate, has responded to the combined climate and biodiversity crises by opening new permissive paths and encouraging volunteers to help with conservation work.
The benefits of this approach are manifold. It enhances public engagement with rural and natural environments, supports biodiversity and habitat restoration through sustainable farming, and encourages cooperative landscape-scale environmental efforts involving multiple farms working together.
Such practices also contribute to national climate, nature, and food security goals by encouraging agroecological farming methods that balance food production with ecological preservation. They improve water quality, reduce farming’s environmental impact, and foster stronger community and landowner relationships.
Moreover, farmland occupies 65% of England, according to Right to Roam, a group campaigning to open up the English countryside to the public. They argue that this land is vital for connectivity. The 2000 Countryside and Rights of Way Act offers freedom to roam uncultivated land, but excludes woodland and riverside.
Sarah Langford, a supporter of this movement, believes farmers should be paid for open access. Mrs. Wheatley, a member of Right to Roam, echoes this sentiment, advocating for a shift towards integrated, sustainable land use that balances agriculture with public and environmental interests.
This model exemplified by the Willoughbys and farmers like Jane Wheatley reflects a contemporary shift towards a more harmonious relationship between farmland, the public, and the environment. By promoting nature restoration, improving water quality, and enabling countryside recovery and thriving biodiversity, this approach offers a promising path forward for sustainable land management in England.
Jane Wheatley, a proponent of this movement, not only encourages environmental stewardship on her home-and-garden, but also advocates for lifestyle changes that foster a closer relationship between the public and the environment. As she works towards integrating public access with her sustainable farming practices, she aligns with the approach endorsed by the Willoughbys and other forward-thinking farmers, promoting a harmonious blend of lifestyle, environmental stewardship, and home-and-garden management.
In line with Sarah Langford's beliefs, Jane Wheatley argues for financial incentives that would reward farmers for opening up their land to the public, thus encouraging a more balanced and sustainable land use model that prioritizes both agricultural productivity and environmental conservation. This integrated approach could pave the way for a new era in England's home-and-garden, farmland, and lifestyle management, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
