sarah johnson

Conservation scientist & Lancs' Peatland Initiative Project Manager @Lancswildlife| sustainable land use, peatlands, biodiversity, bioacoustics. Tweets all mine

[Defra UK @DefraGovUK]

We’re using innovative solutions to improve the condition of farmed lowland peat. 🌱

Last week, Minister Trudy Harrison visited Rindle Moss, a @Lancswildlife site in Greater Manchester.

It is one of the first British trials of #paludiculture, farming on rewetted peat soil.

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

🧵7/7
If we revert to an agric system where people get given taxpayer's money on basis of how much land they own, then one of the few potential environmental benefits of #Brexit will have been squandered

It will be unfair & unsustainable

We will be fighting this tooth & nail

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

🧵6/7
The narrative about 'huge amounts of land' being handed over to nature is nonsense. If only, but it's a lie.

In contrast, the land used to grow biofuels for road transport in the UK could be used to grow crops that would feed 3.5 million people.

https://t.co/bR2XdI1v55

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

🧵5/7
While there's been a lot of attention on poo in our rivers recently, and rightly so, the greatest source of #pollution in our rivers is agriculture

Paying taxpayers money to farmers without requiring environmental improvements will make this worse

https://t.co/vCDzZbd4EB

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

4/7
Truth is, largest landowners have most to lose from removal of area-based payments (half the agric budget goes to biggest 10% of landowners)

Small farmers have most to gain from Environmental Land Management schemes

Farming lobby groups are dominated by large landowners

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

🧵3/7
There is no such thing as #FoodSecurity if our soils are knackered and being washed away, our pollinators are in decline, and our crops facing heat & water stress

We @WildlifeTrusts run 26 working farms, so we do know a thing or two about this..

https://t.co/WbXC427vYG

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

🧵2/7
Their argument is to 'concentrate' on food production, rather than sustainability (exactly what EU CAP did)

And yet, a 2021 @DefraGovUK report concluded that biggest threats to our #FoodSecurity come from the #climate and #nature crisis

Go figure

https://t.co/UwZeMFcN3i

[Craig Bennett @CraigBennett3]

🧵1/7 - THE UTTER MADNESS OF THIS

After 50yrs of 'area-based payments' under EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), there are some concerns about #FoodSecurity

The Liz Truss govt seems to be saying that the answer is to carry on with area-based payments?!

https://t.co/lnE8DcEqvu

[Monty Don @TheMontyDon]

My Washington Post subscription allows me to share access to great journalism. Check out this gift article, at no cost to you.

Read here: https://t.co/tuWcF5yoVE

[D Dunlop retired UK nature policy officer @lawt_d]

Rumours just reaching me of further damage to a peatland Local Wildlife Site near Darwen; driven by apparent need to intensify agricultural production on this "marginal" land. Public payments for public goods can't come too soon for sites like this. https://t.co/QZy41pdYpU

[Dalefoot Composts @DalefootCompost]

⭐️ We’ve won a GOLD medal at #RHSChelsea for our peatland display with @EdenProject encouraging gardeners to switch to #peatfree Absolutely delighted. Thank you to our entire team. And thank you to @NECumbria for the ‘borrowed’ slice of bog 🌎

[Care-Peat @CarePeat]

Yesterday the theory, today boots on the peaty ground.

Sunny (!) visit to our pilot site Cloncrow Bog where our partners work hard on recovery, research and local support

[Care-Peat @CarePeat]

@CarePeat, the movie 📽️

Starring this week: our carbon farm, pioneering project looking to find alternative land management methods for farmed peatlands. Both climate friendly & economically viable 🚜🌍

Shout out to @Lancswildlife @ManMetUni @beadamoss

https://t.co/LY6azWrbvp

[Beth Otway (Pumpkin Beth) 🌱 @pumpkin_beth]

Over 35 key #conservation groups inc @WildlifeTrusts @nationaltrust & high-profile individuals inc @DaveGoulson @isabella_tree
have signed this statement urging the #UKGov to ban the retail sale of peat in #horticulture:
https://t.co/SBzymA30WZ
Want to sign? Email me. #Nature

[The London NERC DTP @London_NERC_DTP]

Earthworms are more important than pandas - a blog by @Sa_rahJohnson from 2017 https://t.co/1TPMPwvo4d #FlashbackFriday

[The Wildlife Trusts @WildlifeTrusts]

Today the English and Welsh Governments announce a consultation on ending the sale of peat to amateur gardeners. But much more must be done in order to protect our precious peatlands 👇 👇
https://t.co/o5sfDjSd3R

[sarah johnson @Sa_rahJohnson]

@NorthWildlife Really sorry to see this