UK: Over 1,700 farms lost on urban outskirts since 2010, charity warns
Mr Willis called on the government to urgently join up its policies on land use, food security and agricultural support in a way that recognised the role of the countryside around towns and cities.
By FarmingUK Team
31 March 2025
Excerpt:
More than 1,700 farms on the outskirts of English towns and cities have vanished since 2010, according to a concerning new report released today.
A total of 56,000 hectares of agricultural land has been lost, an area comparable to the size of Leeds, countryside charity CPRE warned on Monday (31 March).
Despite accounting for just 11.3% of the UK’s agricultural land, these farms produce a disproportionately high share of key crops, such as wheat, oats and barley.
Beyond food production, they act as vital green buffers, supporting local ecosystems, cutting food miles, and contributing £3.3 billion annually to the UK economy.
In its report [PDF], the CPRE said the government must recognise the “vital role” of the countryside around towns and cities, or else more farms could be lost.
The crisis is unfolding amid further instability in the agricultural sector, following Defra’s recent suspension of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme.
Read the complete article here.
Source: https://cityfarmer.info/uk-over-1700-farms-lost-on-urban-outskirts-since-2010-charity-warns/
