Campaign update

Hedgerows are one of the features of the English countryside which farmers work so hard to maintain. Photo: © CPRE.

The hidden cost of managing the countryside
What does it cost to maintain England's beautiful, diverse farmed landscapes, and who does the work? A survey in May 2005 by the National Farmers' Union and CPRE has come up with a first estimate for the cost of the landscape management work undertaken by England's farmers. Our research findings are revealed in this new joint report, which makes a strong case for continued public support for farming in return for the work needed to maintain a beautiful countryside for the benefit of us all.