Steering Committee member Elizabeth Buchanan CVO reflects on the theme of this year’s event and the importance of conversations about the countryside that bring us together rather than divide us.

Julian Glover, Co-chair of Future Countryside, shares his vision for Future Countryside to be a day of inspiration, connection and ambition intended to share choices about the future of rural Britain with all of us who need it to succeed.

Sally Ormiston, Head of Consulting at Rural Solutions writes how rural affairs matter and the time is now for a future countryside.

“Not since I started work in rural development during the Foot & Mouth crisis of 2001 has the countryside been as high on both public and political agenda as it is going into 2024.”

Today marks an important step forward for Future Countryside with the launch of a report from our rapporteur based on this year’s event. We are extremely grateful to its author, Heather Hancock, Chair of the Royal Countryside Fund and Master of St John’s College Cambridge. The report brings together the discussions at Hatfield where we were united and distils five principles.

The Future Countryside event, held on June 6 2023, was a gathering of more than 200 voices from rural Britain, each with unique perspectives but a shared aspiration - to ensure that the countryside is a positive force in the lives of the British people. Read the digest of the event here.

Future Countryside brought together a group of voices and views from across the country who all shared one ambition; to ensure rural Britain plays a positive part in the lives of all of the people of Britain. Watch our reminder of the day.

James Fisher reports back from Future Countryside in Country Life.

As the great and the good descended upon Hatfield House for the inaugural Future Countryside conference, there was an air of anxious excitement. For someone who spends a lot of time online, reading ideas and counter ideas about the past, present and future of rural Britain, the guestlist was like watching my Twitter feed come to life. One thing is sure — it was no mean feat getting so many people, with so many different viewpoints, into the same room. Regardless of what happens next, this was progress.

The successful inaugural Future Countryside event took place at Hatfield House on Tuesday 6 June with a host of speakers covering the biggest issues facing rural communities today. This landmark event was covered by BBC's Farming Today programme.

Speaking at the Future Countryside event on Tuesday 6 June Lord Mandelson spoke of his passion for the countryside, recognising it as the national asset it is and reminding those at this landmark event that no party can claim to represent the country if it doesn’t represent the countryside.

“And this is a reminder that the people who live and work in the countryside, and especially the successive generations of farmers who produce food and who are the land’s principal custodians, by and large know what they are doing.”

New polling carried out for the Future Countryside event taking place today, on Tuesday 6 June, reveals that British people are incredibly proud of our countryside (second only to our NHS) with almost everyone (93%) agreeing that it should be regarded as part of our national heritage. A majority of people (54%) don’t feel the countryside is being taken seriously enough by the Government, and three-quarters (75%) want more political debate on the challenges facing rural areas.

Speaking at Future Countryside on Tuesday 6 June the Environment Secretary launched a new strategy to unleash rural potential and recognised the countryside for the role it should play.

‘The countryside is the bedrock of our own story, rightly famous around the world for its beauty. And absolutely at the heart it is a part of what makes our country such a great place to live. It has nourished generations of painters, poets, authors, composers, who brought the countryside and nature to life.’

A huge majority of the public, urban and rural, also believe the countryside should be regarded as part of our national heritage. The global perception of what defines our nation includes our landscape, as those charged with promoting tourism and investment know: “The countryside is Great” posters greet visitors in every airport. Why, then, does our discourse so belittle it?

The inaugural ‘Future Countryside’ conference, taking place on Tuesday 6 June 2023 at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, aims to include rural communities as part of the solution to improving the natural environment, addressing climate change, improving our public health, housing people, and tackling food and energy security.

Nick Butler, vice president of the Fabian Society and steering committee member of Future Countryside, is interviewed by Emily Norton, Director of Future Countryside where they chat about their love for the countryside, energy policy and Nick’s role in advising Labour governments.

I’m delighted to be part of an event that’s taking a fresh look at the challenge and our responsibilities, that’s getting us talking about the route map that will deliver us to a healthy, prosperous, valued countryside and a promising future for the people who live and work there. More than anything, and because I know there is no shortage of vision, I’m going to be listening for the who and the how.

The building of a vibrant countryside is something that concerns all of us whether we live in urban or rural settings as not only does it produce food and many public goods our stunning landscape also underpins the tourism economy.

I all too vividly remember my first real trip to the countryside, with posh middle-class people from university. They all seemed to undergo a complete personality change on the way there. The wan-faced lot smoking roll ups and drinking black coffee from unwashed cups became rosy cheeked Scout leaders, dressed in boots and sturdy walking gear that I did not possess or even recognise.

I have lived and worked in the British countryside for a significant proportion of my life. I have witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly, and at times have had the opportunity to make a difference to a landscape that is always evolving.

Peers from the cross-party House of Lords land use in England commission have laid out their priorities for a land use framework, which would divide up the land in England and decide where is best for different types of agriculture, as well as carbon sequestration, nature restoration and recreation.