The Buckinghamshire Council Rural Forum met to discuss a presentation from the Environmental Farmers Group, and to hear about the implications for food and farming of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan Consultation. The Forum was also scheduled to discuss updates from the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Chilterns National Landscape (CNL), and the Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA).

Presentations

Colin Smart of the Environmental Farmers Group was scheduled to give a presentation on farmers working collaboratively for nature. Simon Kearey was also scheduled to give a presentation on the food and farming implications of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan Consultation.

Information Items

The Forum was scheduled to hear updates from the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Chilterns National Landscape (CNL), and the Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA).

At the previous meeting on 6 March 2025, Mark Wheeler representing the NFU, reported on several issues of concern to farmers, including:

• The theft of tools and trailers, and GPS systems.
• Fly-tipping.
• Livestock worrying¹ by dogs.

• The government's proposed inheritance tax policy² for farmers.

  The government's initial claim that only 27% of farms will be affected by the new IHT policy materially underestimated the true proportion. We found that around 75% of commercial family farms would be above the £1 million threshold.

• A Rural Farm Tour was (nearly) booked for June at Copas Farms, Iver, Bucks.

  Councillor Johncock reported that a farmer in his ward had recently threatened to kill a dog with his gun because the dog was worrying his sheep. Alex Ash, from Thames Valley Police (TVP) explained that instances such as these were very rare but that education was key in getting the message across to residents and walkers who were dog owners.

  Councillor Mark Turner mentioned that he was part of a South-West Chilterns WhatsApp group in relation to rural security issues with the idea that any suspicious activity be reported for everyone to take note.

Neil Jackson was scheduled to provide an update on the Chilterns National Landscape (CNL), including:

• The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme.
• A new treescapes guidance hub.
• The River Chess, Smarter Water Catchment project.
• The Walking Festival, 17th May to 1st June.

Nicole Onyett from the Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) was scheduled to provide an update on the college, including:

• The first year of delivering the T-Level[^4].
• Telehandler and tractor driving training.
• A mock interview training morning for T level learners.
• A new sheep shed.
• A new workshop and storage shed.
• The delivery of 2 new New Holland tractors.

• The college was in the process of selling off a piece of land for a housing development.

  Concern had been raised that the policies currently arriving would make many look again at the future of the industry, which would almost certainly affect our numbers for the next year or two.