Championing the countryside, rural life, and traditions. Join us today for community, conservation, and member benefits, including insurance coverage.
The British countryside
Joined February 2009
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An unprecedented range of government policies over the past two years have left rural people feeling under attack.
If political leaders want to speak for all parts of the country, they have to hear the countryside too.
Now is the time for a rural reset: ruralreset.org/
Countryside Alliance retweeted
Banning game shooting would be a disaster for the countryside. The government must listen to the experts that understand the huge benefits it brings for biodiversity, conservation and the rural economy.
📺Important piece from @annarileynews ⬇️
The government have launched a call for evidence on the rearing, release and shooting of gamebirds in England, which closes on Sunday 1 November.
GB News’ Yorkshire and Humberside Reporter, Anna Riley, goes to a game shoot in Nottinghamshire to see how changing the rules would impact a traditional British countryside pursuit.
Countryside Alliance retweeted
The government have launched a call for evidence on the rearing, release and shooting of gamebirds in England, which closes on Sunday 1 November.
GB News’ Yorkshire and Humberside Reporter, Anna Riley, goes to a game shoot in Nottinghamshire to see how changing the rules would impact a traditional British countryside pursuit.
The government is considering licensing shooting - to do that they must first ban it.
Answer their Call for Evidence survey before midnight on Sunday 1 November to make the case for the future of shooting.
Submit your response: consultations.defra.gov.uk/c…
Shooting faces the biggest threat in a generation. Have you responded to the government's Call for Evidence?
Submit your response to the survey by 1 November to make the case for the future of shooting and help save it from a ban and licensing regime.
Respond now: consultations.defra.gov.uk/c…
View our guidance on how to respond, prepared in partnership with other Aim to Sustain partner organisations and the @GWCT as scientific advisor, here: countryside-alliance.org/new…
The Budget offered the new government the chance of a rural reset. Its response to this opportunity was, to say the least, underwhelming...
countryside-alliance.org/fea…
Countryside Alliance retweeted
“If the new administration is not going to do anything for the countryside, will it at least stop doing things to it?”
My piece on the missed opportunity for a rural reset in the Budget.
countryside-alliance.org/fea…
Countryside Alliance retweeted
‘The farmers I know have no intention of giving up’ express.co.uk/news/politics/…
Countryside Alliance retweeted
Nothing against @WildlifeTrusts but there are loads of private landowners throughout the country who have already delivered nature recovery and sustainable farming on a massive scale. The idea that Rothbury is some unique project and a “new bar” is just nonsense.
Tens of thousand of people have enabled the @WildlifeTrusts to buy the Rothbury Estate. Largest land purchase in a generation brings an area of Northumberland the size of Athens into Nature recovery. Brilliant & bold work that sets a new bar for ambition for Nature in England.
wildlifetrusts.org/news/futu…
Game shooting supports thousands of jobs, rural businesses, and conservation projects across the countryside.
With the threat of government imposed shoot licensing, concern has turned to dismay. We asked people at our Campaign for the Countryside launch what they believe the government needs to do to reset its relationship with rural Britain.
#campaignforthecountryside #ruralreset #shootingcommunity
This Budget offered the Chancellor the chance to reset its relationship with the countryside. However, he showed little interest in seizing that opportunity.
💠Extending small business rates relief could help rural businesses, but coupled with hikes in employment costs it remains to be seen whether hardworking rural business owners will see any real benefit.
💠While temporarily extending the red diesel duty cut and suspending tariffs on kerosene heating oil and fertiliser are welcome moves, it will come as little solace to farmers still facing enormous threats to their livelihoods.
💠At a time when the government should be increasing support for farmers and in the wake of last month’s Sustainable Farming Incentive fiasco, it has slashed DEFRA's funding for 2027-28 by £100m.
💠Before becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham pledged to revisit the hated Family Farm Tax. He has failed to do so, and this tax continues to tarnish the government’s rural record.
This Budget does little to give “breathing space” or fresh hope for the countryside. If this government is serious about growth in every postcode, including in the countryside, it must urgently address the plethora of problems facing rural businesses.
#Budget2026 #FamilyFarmTax #RuralEconomy
Countryside Alliance retweeted
Following on from yesterday's budget announcement, where the CA had 10 asks for John Healey and Andy Burnham, from the family farm tax to VAT on heating oil ➡️ hear what Jake had to say about the budget.
#Budget2026
Countryside Alliance retweeted
Last night, while the Chancellor showed off his pint chugging skills to an adoring pack of political anoraks in London, rural organisations busily scoured through his 166-page Budget. The overwhelming conclusion, I’m disappointed to report, is that he missed a golden opportunity to reset the government’s fractured relationship with the countryside.
Me for @Daily_Express ⬇️ express.co.uk/news/politics/…
Shooting needs you.
Respond to the government's survey by this Sunday 1 November to help save it from a ban and licensing regime.
🚨 Respond here: consultations.defra.gov.uk/c…
View our guidance: countryside-alliance.org/new…
Countryside Alliance retweeted
The Chancellor delivered just 1 of 10 of the countryside’s Budget asks. ruralreset.org/#budget-bingo
Shooting faces the biggest threat in a generation. The government is considering licensing it - to do that they must first ban it.
Respond to their survey before 1 Nov to make the case for the future of shooting ⬇️
consultations.defra.gov.uk/c…
Read our guidance on how to respond here: countryside-alliance.org/new…
Countryside Alliance retweeted
Andy Burnham pledged to revisit the hated Family Farm Tax. He has failed to do so. This tax continues to tarnish the government’s rural record.
We will continue to vocally oppose this tax and call for its abolition.
Countryside Alliance retweeted
This Budget offered the Chancellor the opportunity to reset its relationship with the countryside. Today, however, he showed little interest in seizing that chance.
Extending small business rates relief could help rural businesses, but coupled with hikes in employment costs it remains to be seen whether hardworking rural business owners will see any real benefit. Additionally, while temporarily extending the red diesel duty cut and suspending tariffs on kerosene heating oil and fertiliser are welcome moves, it will come as little solace to farmers still facing enormous threats to their livelihoods.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham pledged to revisit the hated Family Farm Tax. He has failed to do so. This tax continues to tarnish the government’s rural record. It is preventing farmers from making important decisions about their livelihoods, hampering the government’s own mission of creating good growth in every postcode. Working with the custodians of our countryside, we will continue to vocally oppose this tax and call for its abolition.
Additionally, farmers have been encouraged for years to diversify their businesses by creating holiday lets, among other measures; but anyone who has done so is now being punished by yet another increase to the property income tax paid on such lets, further threatening the viability of their business.
At a time when the government should be increasing support for farmers and in the wake of last month’s Sustainable Farming Incentive fiasco, it has slashed DEFRA's funding for 2027-28 by £100m.
This Budget does little to give “breathing space” or fresh hope for the countryside. If this government is serious about growth in every postcode, including in the countryside, it must urgently address the plethora of problems facing rural businesses. Scrapping the Family Farm Tax is the only way to turn a new leaf.
@CAupdates
Countryside Alliance retweeted
Good to see the amazing efforts of rural people recognised during the recent wildfires. An important reminder. Their assistance is vital to emergency services. Well done everybody involved.
