Food imports threaten landscapes

Many of Britain's fells and pastures are in danger of disappearing unless consumers buy more home-grown farm produce, a study has warned.

Cumbria and Devon are most at risk from the loss of sheep, dairy and beef farms, according to research carried out for Country Living Magazine.

Northumberland, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Yorkshire are also at risk.

The study looked at declines in full time farm workers, dairy holdings and grazing livestock from 2000 to 2005.

Both Cumbria and Devon experienced a sharp reduction in farms, with Cumbria losing more than 500 sheep and beef farms between 2000 and 2005 and Devon losing in excess of 500 dairy farms in the same period.

Top 10 counties at risk 1 Cumbria 1 Devon 3 North Yorkshire 4 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 5 Lancashire 6 Staffordshire 7 Cheshire 8 Shropshire 9 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 10 Northumberland

Sheep and beef farming are declining the fastest across the north, particularly in Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria.

Surrey is losing farm workers at the fastest rate with a 30% drop since 2000.

Dairy farms have declined in Essex by nearly 40% in the past six years and Oxfordshire, County Durham and Hertfordshire have all lost more than a third of dairy farms.

Country Living editor Susy Smith said: "Farming is crucial for maintaining the countryside we know and love. Without it, the landscape will change dramatically.

"To look after the countryside, we also need to look after farmers, and that means ensuring we buy produce from shops that pay a fair price to British farmers.

"It isn't much to ask and it isn't charity. It's simply making sure that farmers earn a living wage for the food they supply."

Country Living is working with Waitrose supermarket to campaign for Fair Trade for British Farmers.

Waitrose managing director Steven Esom added: "Without taking steps to reverse the reduction in farms and farm workers, the British countryside will change dramatically for the worst."