Securing the Tapestry
Steering Committee member Elizabeth Buchanan CVO reflects on the theme of this year’s event and the importance of conversations about the countryside that bring us together rather than divide us.
Future Countryside 2024 will bring ambition and energy to rural policy
Julian Glover, Co-chair of Future Countryside, shares his vision for Future Countryside to be a day of inspiration, connection and ambition intended to share choices about the future of rural Britain with all of us who need it to succeed.
The time is now for a future countryside
Sally Ormiston, Head of Consulting at Rural Solutions writes how rural affairs matter and the time is now for a future countryside.
“Not since I started work in rural development during the Foot & Mouth crisis of 2001 has the countryside been as high on both public and political agenda as it is going into 2024.”
Event rapporteur Heather Hancock reports back with her reflections and calls to action
Today marks an important step forward for Future Countryside with the launch of a report from our rapporteur based on this year’s event. We are extremely grateful to its author, Heather Hancock, Chair of the Royal Countryside Fund and Master of St John’s College Cambridge. The report brings together the discussions at Hatfield where we were united and distils five principles.
Shaping the Future Countryside: A vision for a thriving rural Britain
The Future Countryside event, held on June 6 2023, was a gathering of more than 200 voices from rural Britain, each with unique perspectives but a shared aspiration - to ensure that the countryside is a positive force in the lives of the British people. Read the digest of the event here.
Two weeks ago… Future Countryside was held shining a spotlight on the issues facing the countryside
Future Countryside brought together a group of voices and views from across the country who all shared one ambition; to ensure rural Britain plays a positive part in the lives of all of the people of Britain. Watch our reminder of the day.
Our countryside is utterly magnificent — now is the time to find the will to save it
James Fisher reports back from Future Countryside in Country Life.
As the great and the good descended upon Hatfield House for the inaugural Future Countryside conference, there was an air of anxious excitement. For someone who spends a lot of time online, reading ideas and counter ideas about the past, present and future of rural Britain, the guestlist was like watching my Twitter feed come to life. One thing is sure — it was no mean feat getting so many people, with so many different viewpoints, into the same room. Regardless of what happens next, this was progress.
Future Countryside features on Farming Today
The successful inaugural Future Countryside event took place at Hatfield House on Tuesday 6 June with a host of speakers covering the biggest issues facing rural communities today. This landmark event was covered by BBC's Farming Today programme.
Peter Mandelson: The Politics of the Countryside
Speaking at the Future Countryside event on Tuesday 6 June Lord Mandelson spoke of his passion for the countryside, recognising it as the national asset it is and reminding those at this landmark event that no party can claim to represent the country if it doesn’t represent the countryside.
“And this is a reminder that the people who live and work in the countryside, and especially the successive generations of farmers who produce food and who are the land’s principal custodians, by and large know what they are doing.”
British countryside is part of our national heritage and the Government must take it seriously, new polling shows
New polling carried out for the Future Countryside event taking place today, on Tuesday 6 June, reveals that British people are incredibly proud of our countryside (second only to our NHS) with almost everyone (93%) agreeing that it should be regarded as part of our national heritage. A majority of people (54%) don’t feel the countryside is being taken seriously enough by the Government, and three-quarters (75%) want more political debate on the challenges facing rural areas.
Speaking at Future Countryside on Tuesday 6 June Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey launches new drive to support rural communities
Speaking at Future Countryside on Tuesday 6 June the Environment Secretary launched a new strategy to unleash rural potential and recognised the countryside for the role it should play.
‘The countryside is the bedrock of our own story, rightly famous around the world for its beauty. And absolutely at the heart it is a part of what makes our country such a great place to live. It has nourished generations of painters, poets, authors, composers, who brought the countryside and nature to life.’
Writing in the Times today Nick Herbert says ‘Rural groups must unite to shape our countryside’s future’
A huge majority of the public, urban and rural, also believe the countryside should be regarded as part of our national heritage. The global perception of what defines our nation includes our landscape, as those charged with promoting tourism and investment know: “The countryside is Great” posters greet visitors in every airport. Why, then, does our discourse so belittle it?
Landmark ‘Future Countryside’ conference aims to put people at the heart of countryside policy
The inaugural ‘Future Countryside’ conference, taking place on Tuesday 6 June 2023 at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, aims to include rural communities as part of the solution to improving the natural environment, addressing climate change, improving our public health, housing people, and tackling food and energy security.
Nick Butler of the Fabian Society chats all things rural and advising Labour governments
Nick Butler, vice president of the Fabian Society and steering committee member of Future Countryside, is interviewed by Emily Norton, Director of Future Countryside where they chat about their love for the countryside, energy policy and Nick’s role in advising Labour governments.
Heather Hancock - Let’s take a fresh look at the challenges facing the countryside
I’m delighted to be part of an event that’s taking a fresh look at the challenge and our responsibilities, that’s getting us talking about the route map that will deliver us to a healthy, prosperous, valued countryside and a promising future for the people who live and work there. More than anything, and because I know there is no shortage of vision, I’m going to be listening for the who and the how.
Julia Aglionby - Why we all need to work together fast on the countryside
The building of a vibrant countryside is something that concerns all of us whether we live in urban or rural settings as not only does it produce food and many public goods our stunning landscape also underpins the tourism economy.
Sarah Mukherjee - Policy making must break down the barriers between rural and urban communities
I all too vividly remember my first real trip to the countryside, with posh middle-class people from university. They all seemed to undergo a complete personality change on the way there. The wan-faced lot smoking roll ups and drinking black coffee from unwashed cups became rosy cheeked Scout leaders, dressed in boots and sturdy walking gear that I did not possess or even recognise.
Jake Fiennes - We need rural policy that is fit for purpose, people and planet
I have lived and worked in the British countryside for a significant proportion of my life. I have witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly, and at times have had the opportunity to make a difference to a landscape that is always evolving.
The green King: How Charles III champions nature, farming and the countryside
For over 50 years, King Charles III has expressed his concern for environmental issues. For decades he has worked not only to draw attention to the environmental threats humanity faces but also to drive change for more sustainable practices.
Access to green space must be priority for land use in England, peers say
Peers from the cross-party House of Lords land use in England commission have laid out their priorities for a land use framework, which would divide up the land in England and decide where is best for different types of agriculture, as well as carbon sequestration, nature restoration and recreation.