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18/02/2011

The government apologises and cancels the forest sell-off. Charlotte Smith asks Secretary of State Caroline Spelman what the future now holds for England's forests.

The government apologises and cancels the forest sell-off. Charlotte Smith asks Secretary of State for the Environment Caroline Spelman what the future now holds for England's forests. The Forestry Commission is still to lose 400 jobs, a third of its workforce, and Mary Creagh, shadow secretary of state, argues that means woods and forests will still be under threat.

The snowdrops may be out, but the impact of December's frosts is still being felt on farms across the country. A trip to Stourport in Worcestershire reveals the damage to the purple-sprouting broccoli crop. That has meant a shortage on the shop shelves, and Farming Today hears the price may stay at a premium for the rest of the season.

Horse racing and riding together employ 70,000 direct full-time jobs, and more than 4 million people have enjoyed a canter in the last year. But horse riding isn't cheap, and many liveries have closed as the economy has struggled. Charlotte Smith visits the London Equestrian Centre to see how their business is adapting.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith, Producer Melvin Rickarby.

15 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Feb 2011 05:45

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  • Fri 18 Feb 2011 05:45

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