Flooding and the National Farmers Union response

On Radio 4 this morning, on the Today programme, a lunatic by the name of Kendall from the National Farmers Union suggested, and I hope you are sitting down comfortably, that all the none dredging has been for the benefit of nature.  Only a farmer could come up with a giant load of rubbish like this.

(You can listen to him if you wish: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26336128)

I know one of the latest suggestions to help stop flooding is to fell trees across rivers to assist in backing the rivers up and so flood farm land.  I know there has also been a suggestion to introduce more Beavers to do this job for us so the cost will be zero eventually.

I dont think introducing more Beavers is good.  I think people like farmers will simply go round shooting them!  It is also hard to see in such a small country as ours that felling trees and flooding land that way would be good.  So im undecided on that bit.  But.............

........to suggest dredging has ceased all for the benefit of nature is just plain bonkers.  Yes, nature will have benefited in some ways, no doubt.  It seems a rather simplistic view.  A bit like that fat MP turning up in Somerset and telling the locals he would get some dredging done and blaming the Environment Agency.  Nice one.

With Environment Agency budgets being cut like other budgets what can anyone expect?  And with the EA having to make sure every £1 they spend returns £8 in value, how can they ever win??

Back to the NFU rep, Kendall.  This man has made me angry all day.  Grrrrr!!

I wondered who it was that filled in millions of ponds over the past years, ponds that could capture water and allow it to seep away? 

I wondered who it was that filled in many ditches over the years, ditches that retained water?

I wondered who it was that stripped out hedgerow after hedgerow after hedgerow?  

I wondered who it was that has allowed topsoil (silt once its in the water) to run off and be carried downstream to block up rivers?  

I wondered who it was that continues to plough up to the edge of fields not leaving any margins of grasses and weeds to assist nature?

I wondered who it was that sprays toxic chemicals all over their fields and in to any remaining ditches to be carried in to the water system from which our drinking water is supplied and to kill any flora or fauna on its way downstream?

I wondered who it was that has continually killed off virtually all nature on farmland?  This point is THE MAJOR point, Kendall doesnt want nature, farmers dont want nature, so blame nature, end of.  He is a sad man.  Much of farming must be a sad community.

And lastly, I wondered what damage has been done in my life time (I am 51) as it seems that in the past 50-70 years is when the most damage has been done??....

So, Mr NFU....I wonder who needs to take a good look in the mirror and face up to a few home truths rather than, as usual, blame everyone else...especially nature....which you have driven to the edge!