Herbert launches public forum on countryside's future

Nick Herbert has launched ‘Future Countryside’, a public forum to look at ways of promoting a sustainable countryside.

The Shadow Environment Secretary wants to engage informed, expert views on important policy decisions to protecting the future of the countryside against the challenges of climate change and growing pressures on resources.

At the launch of the Future Countryside website, Nick said there were "critical decisions" to take over the way we manage the countryside and enhance biodiversity - and he stressed:

“Now is the opportunity for new thinking with radical ideas such as our proposal for a scheme of conservation credits to help us protect habitats and enhance biodiversity.”

He added, “As part of our commitment to new politics, we want to open up this debate.  Future Countryside will provide a public forum for those with real insight and practical experience to discuss the long-term policy decisions that will decide the future of our countryside.”