Defra has pledged £500 million to help landowners and managers undertake nature recovery actions. A revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) involves combining government funding with private investment, the aim to restore or create 250,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats outside of protected sites by December 2030. This involves doubling the number of farms providing sufficient year-round resources for farm wildlife, compared with 2025. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds described the EIP as a ‘step change in restoring nature’ and pledged that ambitious targets will be backed by real action. However, the plan hasn’t been met with universal approval, especially when it comes to food production. The…