'Get on my land' The access-friendly farmers boosting the right to roam
The Guardian|January 08, 2025
When Debra and Tom Willoughby first arrived at their tenant farm in Nottinghamshire, they tried to reroute a bridleway that runs through their farmyard.
Patrick Barkham
'Get on my land' The access-friendly farmers boosting the right to roam

Now the organic farmers are relieved they were refused permission because of the benefits they have found from the connections they make with people who walk through the farm. They have since opened new permissive footpaths on their land.

Farmers are often cast as vociferous opponents of wider access to the countryside. But a growing band of access-friendly farmers have joined forces with the Right to Roam campaign and will discuss how to open up more land for public enjoyment at this week's Oxford Real Farming Conference, launched in 2010 as an alternative to the Oxford Farming Conference.

"It's really nice when we get people through the yard - the positives far outweigh the negatives," said Debra Willoughby, who farms 157 hectares (388 acres) with organic beef cattle, cereals and new agroforestry apple orchards at Normanton-on-Soar, near Loughborough. "Farms are very isolated places. It used to be tens of people working on this farm and now it's just me and my husband."

The Willoughbys are planting more than 12,000 apple trees for eating and juicing, converting their former dairy farm to agroforestry. While they are paying local people to plant the trees this winter, they also have village tree-planting days so volunteers can get involved.

Denne historien er fra January 08, 2025-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 08, 2025-utgaven av The Guardian.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIANSe alt
The Guardian

Wada faces crisis after US withholds its funding

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is facing a crisis after the US government defaulted on a $3.6m contribution to the global sport watchdog's annual budget.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025
All change at West Ham Lopetegui out, Potter hired... now Steidten may be axed too
The Guardian

All change at West Ham Lopetegui out, Potter hired... now Steidten may be axed too

West Ham have appointed Graham Potter as their manager after ending days of uncertainty by firing Julen Lopetegui.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 09, 2025
The Guardian

Police hand 'full file' to CPS over footballer accused of rape

The Metropolitan police has handed a \"full file\" of evidence on a Premier League footballer accused of rape to the Crown Prosecution Service.

time-read
1 min  |
January 09, 2025
Bergvall rides luck to give Spurs a lift and leave Liverpool fuming
The Guardian

Bergvall rides luck to give Spurs a lift and leave Liverpool fuming

Tottenham feared it was going to be a story about a fresh take on VAR pain.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Potter must work magic to rebuild hapless Hammers
The Guardian

Potter must work magic to rebuild hapless Hammers

Lopetegui's exit leaves behind team without identity or resilience, though he is not solely to blame for shambles

time-read
4 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Young at heart: Father and son story can add to rich history of Cup
The Guardian

Young at heart: Father and son story can add to rich history of Cup

Ashley Young hopes to line up against his son Tyler when Everton face Peterborough in today's FA Cup showdown

time-read
4 mins  |
January 09, 2025
The Guardian

Trial will give fans chance to drink alcohol during games

The Women's Championship clubs Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle and Southampton will take part in a trial permitting fans to drink alcohol in the stands while watching games.

time-read
1 min  |
January 09, 2025
South Africa must push back against Afghan women's ban, says Hain
The Guardian

South Africa must push back against Afghan women's ban, says Hain

The veteran anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain has called on Cricket South Africa to challenge the ban on women's and girls' cricket in Afghanistan.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Feyi-Waboso dilemma over surgery for sake of Lions goal
The Guardian

Feyi-Waboso dilemma over surgery for sake of Lions goal

England's Manny Feyi-Waboso is still in two minds about whether to undergo a shoulder operation that could affect his chances of British & Irish Lions selection later this year.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Archie Vaughan follows his father into England captaincy with U19s
The Guardian

Archie Vaughan follows his father into England captaincy with U19s

Archie Vaughan is following in the footsteps of his father, Michael, after being named as England Under-19 captain.

time-read
1 min  |
January 09, 2025