Landowners in England given £9bn in environment payments despite decline

Mandatory reports should be published on how taxpayers' money is spent on environmental stewardship, says campaigner

Landowners in England have been paid more than 9bn of taxpayers' money in the past 30 years for environmental benefits, despite the decline in nature that has taken place during that time, data reveals.

The nature campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole, who unearthed the data for his new book, The Lie of The Land, said large landowners should be forced to publish regular reports showing how they are stewarding their land for nature and carbon.

The Lie of the Land is published on 12 September by HarperCollins.