Countryside Alliance

From the family farm tax and trail hunting ban to the growing threat to shooting and racing, the government has spent the last two years picking fights with rural communities.

Now there is a chance to change course.

As our Chief Executive Tim Bonner writes, the new Prime Minister says he wants “growth in every postcode”. But one in four postcodes is rural – so how does closing down farms, shoots, hunts and racing yards deliver growth?

On Monday, we’ll be taking that message to Westminster, where senior Labour and Conservative politicians will warn the new administration about the consequences of continuing with the previous government’s approach.

Will Andy Burnham listen to the countryside?

Read Tim’s latest feature ➡️ https://bit.ly/4gQh2hU

'We have found ourselves in a position where for the first time we are all under attack and we need to stand united'

Our chairman Nick Herbert in today’s Express ahead of the launch of Campaign for the Countryside tomorrow.

Andy Burnham warned not to make an enemy of countryside fighting for survival 'We have found ourselves in a position where for the first time we are all under attack and we need to stand united'

One in four postcodes in Britain is rural, and rural Britain isn't separate from the national economy - it's part of it. The countryside contributes more than £300bn a year and supports over 4 million jobs.

"Rural people are not asking government to solve every problem overnight. They are asking to be heard, understood and treated fairly," said our Chief Executive Tim Bonner to the Express.

It's time for a rural reset.

Join us at https://www.ruralreset.org/

Rural Britain is bigger than you think.

1 in 4 UK postcodes. Over £300 billion contributed to the economy every year. More than 4 million jobs. 675,000 rural businesses across agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and renewable energy.

This is the countryside the Prime Minister promised to grow. It is time to work with it, not against it.

Back the countryside.

Join us at ruralreset.org

Don't miss it! Hampshire Countryside Day is back tomorrow at Bereleigh Estate, in support of the Countryside Alliance and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

With hound parades, a trail hunting demonstration, gundogs, falconry, the Inter-Hunt Scurry, 100+ trade stands, food, drink and plenty of activities to have a go at, there’s something for everyone.

We’ll be there too, so come and say hello as you enjoy a wonderful day in the Hampshire countryside!

➡️ Sunday 13 September
📍 Bereleigh Estate, East Meon
⏰ Gates open 9.30am

Get your tickets and find out more: https://www.hampshirecountrysideday.co.uk/

The government’s new review into gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting is an unnecessary and unjustified attack on shooting and the rural communities that depend on it.

Shooting supports jobs, businesses and communities across the country, while the associated land management delivers important conservation benefits.

We will be responding to the Call for Evidence and making sure the government hears the case for shooting and the people and communities it supports.

Our analysis has revealed that in just two years, the government has announced or imposed 27 policies that are harmful to the countryside and rural communities.

Chief Executive Tim Bonner speaks to the Yorkshire Post about our call to the government and new Prime Minister to work with rural communities, not against them.

It's time for a rural reset.

Find out more here: https://www.ruralreset.org/

The Prime Minister promised growth in every postcode.

One in four of those postcodes is rural. It is time to work with those communities, not against them.

Back the countryside and show your support at ruralreset.org

It is time to treat the countryside as part of the solution to a united Britain, not a problem or an afterthought.

Facing a tidal wave of public outcry, City of Doncaster Council has rightly paused its plans to ban angling at Askern Lake.

In just two years, the government has announced or imposed 27 policies that are harmful to the countryside and rural communities.

“It is time for this government to grasp that the countryside can be a major part of the solution to Britain's problems, not just a burden or an afterthought. The countryside will deliver growth if it is allowed to do that. All we are asking is that the government recognises the needs of rural communities and works with them, not against them. Now is the time for a rural reset”

✍️Tim Bonner on the Campaign for the Countryside ⬇️

Tim Bonner: The countryside comes to Westminster On 14 September, in Westminster, we will be launching a Campaign for the Countryside to promote the opportunity for the Prime Minister to reset the government's relationship with the rural community.

We are asking the government to work with rural communities, not against them.

It’s time for a rural reset.

Find out more➡️ https://www.ruralreset.org/

Our new analysis has revealed that in just two years, the government has announced or imposed 27 policies that are harmful to the countryside and rural communities.

This includes imposing inheritance tax on farmers and agricultural businesses, as well as plans to ban trail hunting and restrict game shooting.

We are asking the government to work with rural communities, not against them. Now is the time for a rural reset.

Labour has announced 27 policies harmful for rural Britain, Countryside Alliance says The Countryside Alliance is set to launch a new campaign demanding Andy Burnham resets the Government’s relationship with rural Britain.

The government looks poised to make yet another attack on rural communities with a Call for Evidence to be launched tomorrow looking at almost all aspects of shooting...

Tim Bonner's latest piece for the Critic examines how the Johnson years’ embrace of animal rights did lasting damage to the Conservatives’ relationship with the countryside...

Party conference season is about to kick off...

The Countryside Alliance will be attending all major party conferences this year, as usual.

First up is Reform conference this Friday - if you're attending, come along.

🦆 Welcome to the Wildfowling Season! 🌅

The Countryside Alliance would like to wish all our members a safe, enjoyable and successful start to the wildfowling season today.

Thank you to the Countryside Alliance Ireland team for the list below of important responsibilities to bear in mind as you head out onto the foreshore, estuary, lough or marsh and into this new season:

🔹 Use steel shot where required. Please ensure you are familiar with and comply with all current regulations regarding non-toxic shot.

🔹 Take only what you intend to eat. Wildfowling is about enjoying the countryside, the activity and the quarry. Please ensure every bird taken is properly utilised and never take more than you can reasonably use.

🔹 Carry out a dynamic risk assessment before and during every outing for both yourself and your dog. Conditions can change quickly, particularly around waterways, with tides, mud, weather, water levels and other hazards all requiring consideration.

🐕 Take particular care around any areas where blue-green algae is known to be present or has been identified. Blue-green algae can pose a serious risk to dogs. Do not allow your dog to drink from or enter water where blue-green algae is present or suspected, and check for current local warnings before setting out. Conditions can change quickly, so always assess the area on the day.

Above all, stay safe, respect the countryside, look after your dog and represent wildfowling responsibly.

Good luck, stay safe and enjoy the wildfowling! 🦆🌾

🪶 Partridge season is here!

After months of preparation, habitat management and hard work, the wait is over.

To all our members, supporters and friends across the shooting community, we wish you a wonderful season ahead, with good days in the field, great company and the continuation of a tradition that brings together people, wildlife, farming and the countryside.

Have a great season! 🌿