Reacting to the annoucnement of the Agriculture and Environment Bills as part of the Queen's Speech, Crispin Trumn, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said:

'We welcome the announcement of the Agriculture and Environment Bills, which are key pieces of legislation in tackling the climate and nature emergencies. Taken together, there is huge potential to take carbon out of the atmosphere by restoring nature and securing the future of our countryside and green spaces. The environmental focus and ambition of the Agriculture Bill in particular must not be watered down.'

'It is time to support all land managers to transition fairly to a net zero future. Farmers are the stewards of large swathes of our countryside, and the Agriculture Bill must guarantee payment of public money for public goods to provide the environmental outcomes the planet and the countryside so desperately need.'