The way we manage land is a key part of the solution to getting to a net zero and nature rich county. There are significant opportunities to capture carbon in the soil, one example being planting hedges and trees.
Read Greener Footprints Herefordshire’s ‘Carbon Workout guide for farmers’ to save carbon and save costs.
Tree planting is now widely regarded as part of a solution to the climate crisis with local and national governments now setting targets for the number of trees to be planted. Herefordshire’s landscape has around 15% tree cover and many, including Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, believe this should be far higher – closer to 30%. This would have significant benefits for storing carbon, for our native wildlife and for people as woodlands are, of course, wonderful places to visit.
Agriculture and land use is an important contributor to global warming. Agriculture also offers unique opportunities to capture carbon- particularly through effective soil management. Nick Read from Farm Herefordshire and The Herefordshire Green Network delivers this talk about how land use can help to tackle the Climate and Ecological Crisis (7 minutes).
Looking at maintaining organic matter levels in arable and grassland (3 minutes).
Hugh Somerleyton, Argus Hardy and Olly Birkbeck, who own more than 3,200 hectares (8,000 acres) on their family farms in Suffolk and Norfolk, are seeking to persuade farmers and also councils, businesses, schools and ordinary people across East Anglia to pledge a fifth of their land to wildlife.
There are numerous Tree Charters and guidence for Local Councils as well as suggested policy to meet statutory biodiversity obligations.
