Windsor & Maidenhead farmers felt council plan 'slagged them off'

Farmers vented their frustration at a rural forum over not being consulted on the council’s biodiversity action plan 2021 – 2026 as well as believing the strategy blames them for the decline in habitats.

The five-year plan seeks to provide 30 per cent of land in the Royal Borough as a space for nature by 2030 to help reverse the decline in the natural environment and increase biodiversity across the borough.

It also seeks to intensify work and engagement with its partners and residents to achieve its aims.

READ MORE: Windsor & Maidenhead biodiversity action plan deferred

It was meant to be adopted by cabinet in April but Cllr Donna Stimson (Con: St Mary’s), lead member for sustainability and climate action, withdrew the plan to engage further with key stakeholders following a “misunderstanding”.

Within the strategy, it states habitats and species are declining within the Royal Borough due to “agricultural intensification,” pollution, and development.

Speaking at the rural forum on Tuesday, May 31, Maidenhead farmer Geoffrey Copas said the council started off “on the wrong foot” by “slagging off” farmers and making them feel they are “the guilty ones” causing the biodiversity decline.

The rural forum at York House, Windsor

Farmer William Emmett added it was “disappointing” that the council didn’t engage with agricultural landowners about this strategy and that the council has “no idea” what biodiversity work the farming community is doing on their land.

Cllr Stimson apologised for the way the strategy was communicated to farmers but said this strategy is an engagement and data collection exercise with stakeholders and not “stamping on the toes” of farmers.

She said: “It [the strategy] got everybody’s hackles up and that was not our intention.”

The Royal Borough has 82 per cent greenbelt land – with 26 per cent being cultivated farmland, 29 per cent is grassland, and woodland makes up 33 per cent.

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However, Mr Copas said the figures used were a “joke” and a “laughingstock,” believing the council could achieve its 30 per cent biodiversity aim by using grassland and woodland rather than prioritising farmland.

He said: “I find it very difficult for me, as a member of the rural forum, to support this plan as it is. I would be very disappointed if the cabinet pass it because I do not think it is in a state fit enough to be passed.”

James Thorpe, the council’s sustainability and climate change lead admitted the data needs to be improved but the strategy intends to improve this by engaging with farmers and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Cllr Stimson said she was “loathed” to pull the strategy to do data gathering and engagement work when this will happen regardless.

Members agreed to recommend to senior councillors to defer the biodiversity action plan again when it comes back to cabinet this month for more engagement work with farmers.