Natural England

Speaking notes for Dr Helen Phillips

Thanks Martin,

Recent research showed that youngsters are more likely to have holidayed abroad than to have explored England's fields and farms. The research also showed that more than a million children across the country have absolutely no contact with the land.

These are deeply worrying statistics at a time when it has never been more important for people - children in particular - to understand how they connect to the natural world.

The vast majority of children, the research showed, enjoyed their farm visit and for many (48%) seeing the wildlife was the most enjoyable part of the visit.

The sort of natural experience that these children enjoyed has become, over a number of years, rare. As a society we are rearing battery-farm not free range children and as a result far too few children either understand the relationship between the food they eat and the natural environment or have the opportunity to experience nature in the raw.

And that is a real concern because if we are to deal with the challenges of climate change, we all need to better understand the relationship between the way we live our lives and the impact that we have on the natural environment.

So inspiring people - especially children - to experience, enjoy and understand the natural world is a priority at Natural England.

That's why initiatives like the Year of Food and Farming are to be so warmly applauded, because they bring real drive to the campaign to give a new generation first hand experiences of the natural world. The challenge now for us all is to build upon the achievements of the Year and create a new cohort of young environmentalists.

At Natural England we will continue to promote the Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS), to give teachers the quality assurance that visits will be of real educational value.

We have also recently launched a £25million Big Lottery funded 'Access to Nature' scheme, that will award grants of between £50 000 and £half-a-million to projects that help reconnect people to the natural world, and to provide new environmental skills. Further details are available on Natural England's website.

And we will continue to support educational farm visits through our agri-environment schemes - where possible trying to get children from the heart of the city out into the countryside. Already there are 800 farms providing free educational visits, for approximately 100,000 schoolchildren per year. And we hope that more will join in coming years.

And as part of the legacy to the Year of Food and Farming, we delighted to launch the 'Farm Visits Learning Day' , with the Co-op Farms, an exciting range of new materials developed to help children learn about food, farming, and the natural world.

I am delighted to have Christine Taken, General Manager of Co-op Farms here with us today.

Importantly the 'Farm Visits Learning Day' is part of the National Curriculum for 7 to 11 year olds, removing one of the major obstacles to children experiencing the natural world in school time.

These materials are now available as a free download to all primary schools.

And before I finish a word about vital link between farming and the natural environment. Over 21 years farmers and land managers have signed over 60 000 agreements with Natural England and its predecessors, bringing a staggering 60% of England's farmland into environmental management agreements. The government's commitment to these vital schemes should be recognised - and long may it continue.

We recognise that globally increased demand for food from growing populations with rising standards of living, combined with the impact of a climate change is putting pressure on the natural environment here and overseas. But we must maintain a green course to the future, and continue to champion conservation and enhancement of the natural environment alongside increased food production. In the long-term this is the ONLY way.

Alongside the vital contribution these agreements have made to safeguarding our wildlife, soils and water courses; they have helped ensure we still have the hedgerows and stone walls that are so close to people's hearts criss-crossing the countryside; protected archeological monuments that offer a rare window on our past; and a network of footpaths so that people can experience the wonders of the English countryside. And in the future farmers in agri-environment schemes will have a greater role to play is helping manage flood water naturally; as well as storing climate changing carbon.

These services are much too important to sacrifice.

Natural England's Future of Farming awards recognise the achievements of the growing numbers of farmers who are making a real and lasting difference for the natural environment while running a successful farm business. It is important to note that the two DO go together.

I'm pleased to see last year's winner Keith Datchler here with us today. Keith is providing real inspiration and environmental leadership to farmers in the High Weald, and I hope since the award to farmers across the country.

With food prices sky high, populations on the rise, and land in demand more than ever before, the farmers and land managers like Keith who combine long term stewardship of the land and real business innovation have never been more important.

I am told that one of Keith's favourite quotes is a great line from Dickens: "Live your life in case you die tomorrow ~ Farm your land in case you live for ever!"

If we are to face the environmental challenges I mentioned earlier, let's hope that there are plenty more Dickens' fans out there. I look forward to announcing 2008's winner in the Autumn.