Archived News May 2005 As Green Belts reach their half century, they're in big trouble May 31st England's Green Belts are under attack as never before and the biggest threat is from Government itself, the Campaign to Protect Rural England{1} reveals Deadlines Extended for ESS Scheme May 30th Some deadlines for entry into the Environmental Stewardship Scheme have been extended to allow farmers to fully complete their applications Community land purchase is hailed May 29th A former mining village in Fife has been hailed as the first in Scotland to legally secure land under new "right to buy" legislation. Row over village housing proposal May 26th A row has broken out over plans to build thousands of new homes in villages and countryside to the south and east of Stevenage. Ghost town fears over car charges May 25th Shoppers and traders in Caldicot fear that it will turn into a "ghost town" if plans to charge motorists to park are approved. Crow lands in new areas May 24th Rights of access come into force in Wales and two new regions in England this week Field poppy stars at Chelsea May 23rd Scarlet wild poppies win hearts in remembrance gardens at Chelsea Flower Show Village dam builders start work May 19th Construction of a dam costing nearly £900,000 to protect a flood-hit Kent village is hoped to be "substantially complete" by September. Will Government Bill protect the countryside for all? May 18th It is crucial that the Government's Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill announced in today's Queen's Speech, gives strong protection for the countryside and wildlife. Warning about rural roads' risk May 17th More needs to be done to make children in rural areas aware of the risk of road accidents, campaigners say. Where there's muck there's regulation May 16th A new tax on horse manure is causing a stink Rural payphones saved May 15th Following talks between North Yorkshire County Council and BT there will not be a wide-scale removal of payphones from rural areas of North Yorkshire Hunts weigh the future of packs May 13th The MFHA urges hunts to continue breeding their key lines as packs review their strategies in the wake of the hunt ban Ban urged over village helicopter May 12th Residents of a quiet Cornwall village have told a planning inspector that their lives are being ruined by the noise from a helicopter. Villages miss out on flooding aid May 10th Flood-hit residents living in small villages along the River Eden are unlikely to receive funding to help protect their homes. Highway authorities fail clutter challenge May 9th Only two County Councils have agreed to reduce street clutter from rural areas Wild plants need help May 9th One in five of Britain's wild plants are threatened with extinction, according to the new Vascular Plant Red Data List Bright future for some of our finest landscape May 8th It's a great day for anyone who loves our finest countryside and especially the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. We're a step closer to extending both these National Parks to include some of the most beautiful landscape in northern England. Labour Has Been Warned May 7th The bad result for Labour in the election has given heart to rural campaigners who worked hard to determine that only MPs who understand the needs of the countryside are elected to represent them Scarecrow snatcher angers village May 5th Vandals are being blamed for trying to wreck a scarecrow competition amongst villages in south east Cornwall. Rubbish tax builds village hall May 5th Work is about to start on a new village hall in Kent - thanks to a £50,000 grant from a tax on rubbish. Foxes 'Suffer More Under Hunt Ban' May 4th New academic research has proven that the ban on hunting, and the subsequent rise in foxes being shot, has resulted in an increase in the suffering of the animals Wake-up call on coastal change May 3rd New research shows that much of the National Trust's coastline could be affected by coastal erosion in the future. Farmers help overcome school visit fears May 2nd Farmers want to prove that their farms are safe for school visits through a new accreditation scheme. Flower seeds help village cricket bloom May 1st A seed company is sponsoring a village cricket club to promote community spirit.