§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can confirm that the study of landscape change commissioned by the Department of the Environment has shown that the annual rate of destruction of hedgerows in England and Wales rose from 2,600 miles between 1947 and 1969 to 1066WA 2,900 miles between 1969 and 1980 and to 4,000 miles per year between 1980 and 1985, and if so, what proposals they have to remedy the situation.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Skelmersdale)I can confirm that the survey of landscape change carried out for my department and the Countryside Commission by Hunting Surveys and Consultants Limited did show annual hedgerow losses of 2,600 miles between 1947 and 1969, 2,900 miles between 1969 and 1980 and 4,000 miles between 1980 and 1985. The Government continue to believe that grants together with voluntary agreements are the most positive and effective way of achieving results. Grant aid for hedgerow removal has been significantly reduced since 1976 and was completely withdrawn in 1983: grants are available from MAFF for the planting of hedges and shelter-belts at a rate of 30 per cent. generally; and 60 per cent. in Less Favoured Areas.
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will explain how a Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food survey published in September 1985 came to show that the annual rate of hedgerow destruction in England and Wales in the period 1980 to 1985 was running at 496 miles per annum, when the independent survey carried out by Hunting Technical Services Limited for the Department of the Environment shows that the annual rate of destruction of hedgerows during the same period was running at the rate of 4,000 miles per annum, and which of these two figures the Government now consider most accurately reflects changes currently taking place in the countryside.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleThe survey of landscape change carried out for my department and the Countryside Commission by Hunting Surveys and Consultants Ltd and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food survey of environmental topics on farms were very different in approach. For example, the MAFF survey was based on postal questionnaires to some 6,000 farmers asking them to estimate changes in hedgerow lengths and covering approximately 6 per cent. of the area of England and Wales, whereas the independent Hunting survey was based on aerial photography covering 1.1 per cent. of England and Wales backed up by ground survey data. These and other surveys—e.g., that of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology—are still subject to active scrutiny.
§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, as the result of the Department of the Environment's finding of accelerating hedgerow destruction in recent years, they still believe, as they have said in the past, that the survey carried out in 1985 by the National Farmers' Union in a parish in North Suffolk, which found that the length of hedgerow had grown by 15½1 miles in the preceding period 1980–85, is representative of changes taking place generally in England and Wales, or whether they now accept that the annual rate of destruction of hedges of 4,000 miles per annum revealed by Hunting Technical Services' recently publised survey gives an accurate picture.
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§ Lord SkelmersdaleData from the survey of landscape change carried out for my department and the Countryside Commission by Hunting Surveys and Consultants Ltd and from the MAFF survey of environmental topics on farms, while giving some indication of national and regional trends, are not sufficiently accurate for comparison with local trends. Limited evidence as in North Suffolk suggests that the rate of hedgerow planting has increased following changes in MAFF grants for hedgerow planting and removal, and we hope that this trend will continue. Further plans for detailed monitoring of changes in landscape features are under consideration.