2.1.0 Agriculture
2.1.1 Background
Agriculture is the primary land use between Cowes and Newport with farms ranging from 35 to 1,700 acres in size. The farms to the west of the estuary have changed from mixed farming to become predominantly arable, with crops of oil seed rape, beans, spring barley and winter wheat. It includes an area on Werrar Farm which has been taken out of production through the introduction of set-aside. However, some of the farms on the western bank continue to use the land for grazing cattle and sheep. The eastern bank is predominantly used for arable farming. Map 3 illustrates the land use of the Medina Estuary and indicates the arable and grassland areas.
The change in farming from mixed to arable has resulted in the removal of hedges to increase field size. Development has occurred at the edge of the urban areas of Cowes and Newport resulting in the loss of agricultural land.
Regulation: The principle bodies involved in the regulation of agriculture are the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the Environment Agency (EA). MAFF is responsible for the implementation of national legislation and European legislation and directives, while the EA deals with agricultural waste issues and monitoring water quality which includes the monitoring of diffuse pollutants entering the water course from agricultural land. Farmers rely on these bodies, the National Farmers Union (NFU) and professional consultants to keep them up to date on regulation and control.
2.1.2 Issues
2.1.2.1 Public access
Public footpaths and a cycleway exist adjacent to or through agricultural land (see Map 8). Public access issues have been raised on both sides of the estuary by the farming community. Key concerns include:
• increased public access on agricultural land has adverse impacts on the land and agricultural businesses; and
• public rights of way result in trespass due to public access to other areas being assumed.
2.1.1 Background
Agriculture is the primary land use between Cowes and Newport with farms ranging from 35 to 1,700 acres in size. The farms to the west of the estuary have changed from mixed farming to become predominantly arable, with crops of oil seed rape, beans, spring barley and winter wheat. It includes an area on Werrar Farm which has been taken out of production through the introduction of set-aside. However, some of the farms on the western bank continue to use the land for grazing cattle and sheep. The eastern bank is predominantly used for arable farming. Map 3 illustrates the land use of the Medina Estuary and indicates the arable and grassland areas.
The change in farming from mixed to arable has resulted in the removal of hedges to increase field size. Development has occurred at the edge of the urban areas of Cowes and Newport resulting in the loss of agricultural land.
Regulation: The principle bodies involved in the regulation of agriculture are the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the Environment Agency (EA). MAFF is responsible for the implementation of national legislation and European legislation and directives, while the EA deals with agricultural waste issues and monitoring water quality which includes the monitoring of diffuse pollutants entering the water course from agricultural land. Farmers rely on these bodies, the National Farmers Union (NFU) and professional consultants to keep them up to date on regulation and control.
2.1.2 Issues
2.1.2.1 Public access
Public footpaths and a cycleway exist adjacent to or through agricultural land (see Map 8). Public access issues have been raised on both sides of the estuary by the farming community. Key concerns include:
• increased public access on agricultural land has adverse impacts on the land and agricultural businesses; and
• public rights of way result in trespass due to public access to other areas being assumed.
| Objective A1 To ensure that existing and future rights of way are designated, managed and maintained appropriately to minimise potential trespass. |
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| Objective A2 To increase public awareness about the existing rights of way network and the effects of trespass. |
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2.1.2.2 Consultation
Farmers have indicated that:
• they feel that consultation over issues relating to land use in the area is inadequate; and
• their views are not taken into consideration when consulted.
| Objective A3 To ensure that landowners and farmers are consulted over appropriate issues relating to present and future land use. |
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Page last updated on: 03/09/2001
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