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Natural England opposes set-aside alternative
Natural England has spoken out against Defra's plans to introduce an alternative to set-aside farming.
Set-aside is a policy introduced by the EU in 1988 whereby farmers are required leave a proportion of farmland uncultivated.
However, Defra has proposed that scheme becomes voluntary, a move that Natural England - along with other organisations such as the RSPB - is opposed to.
Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, said: "The environmental importance of set-aside - especially its contribution to the needs of some of our farmland birds such as the skylark, corn bunting and lapwing - must not be underestimated.
"We must act quickly. There has been no set-aside since 2007 and the total area of uncultivated land has fallen by 60 per cent. We all value our wildlife and clean water, which depend on the natural environment, most of which is managed by farmers. We must make sure that these benefits are maintained and further improved in future."
The environment secretary will make a decision on the proposals before this summer's parliamentary recess.
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