How to contact advertising standard agency

Robt

Member
Location
Suffolk
So, just watched an advert for botanica. It said uk has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows. It then in small print references a survey from 1987. Or have I watched it wrong? How can they quote a survey from 34 years ago? Or are they saying that since 1987 we have lost 97% of our wild flower meadows?
does anyone know the facts around this? Yes
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
So, just watched an advert for botanica. It said uk has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows. It then in small print references a survey from 1987. Or have I watched it wrong? How can they quote a survey from 34 years ago? Or are they saying that since 1987 we have lost 97% of our wild flower meadows?
does anyone know the facts around this? Yes

Dod Clarkson not say similar on his show?
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
This makes for interesting reading….


“Farming in most parts of the country had reached a low ebb by 1939. In terms of food production. over 60% of our food came from abroad. Never had the grazing acreage been so high and the ploughed-up acreage so low.”

“From the commencement of war, a yearly quota of 2 million acres of additional plough land was set for 1940 (and exceeded by 100,000 acres); the same for 1941.”
 

Zippy768

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Dorset/Wilts
Also, why are they called fluffy “wildflower meadows” to pull on heart strings rather than “semi natural grassland” or “permanent pasture”?
I've been thinking the same thing since I saw Clarkson talk about "wildflower meadows". I suppose it conjures up images of Butterflies and Fairies for the public......then he chucks his sheep in to chew it down 🤷‍♂️
 

Ali_Maxxum

Member
Location
Chepstow, Wales
Yes, that figure/statement is still being waffled around "98% of wild flower meadows have been lost." For at least the last decade. I actually pulled our local wildlife trust up on it in an email last year. I'd have to have a look to see what the response was. There is never ANY mention about how many have been reinstated or reintroduced. Not to mention the amount that have been done unofficially.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
Would this organisation be more appropriate? I'd fire off a complaint to them as well for good measure if they are misreporting the facts.

 

7610 super q

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Think the 2nd world war might have been much of the cause….rather than pesky farmers.

Also, why are they called fluffy “wildflower meadows” to pull on heart strings rather than “semi natural grassland” or “permanent pasture”?
This. Meadows were ploughed up to produce food because the nation was starving. Ungrateful bastewards.
 

robs1

Member
The one I saw said they are donating to replace a huge amount, even mentioned 10 million sq ft, sounds huge until I worked out it's about 450 acres , all spin
 

7610 super q

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
If only we had a union to counteract all this bullsheeet. 🤔 Even Gardener's World isn't sacred with Monty Don whining about the loss of meadows.:banghead: Not to mention Packham/ Monbiot / Iolo Williams peddling their anti farming agenda......
It's highly unlikely many meadows have been ploughed up in the last 30 years. In Wales PP has to be inspected before such activities take place. Same with hedgerows. How many have been grubbed out in the last 30 years ? f**k all, I suspect.
We seem to be taking a lot of flak for what went on 60+ years ago. And there was a good reason for what went on back then.
I'm happy to rewild if that's what folks want, but I'll be wanting considerably more than £70 a f**king acre.

If folks really want the countryside to return to a pre war era, then ban the motorcar, get rid of camping sites / caravan parks / silly footpath signs every few meters/ amusement parks, and stop tagging/ ringing every unsuspecting bird/ wild animal that dares show it's face.
The " Countryside " is slowly, but surely turning into one big theme park.:banghead::banghead::banghead:

Awesome rant @7610 super q 🤣
 

bluebell

Member
things would change overnight if their was a national crisis and food could not be so easily imported ? big big difference from the war time drive to grow homegrown food and now, yes yes the productivity, varieties, knowledge has changed in leaps and bounds but so to has the massive growth of the UKs population, at the same time the population increases so to has the loss forever of productive land that could have grown food, a loss of between 12,000 - 30,000 acres a year lost to development ?
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
things would change overnight if their was a national crisis and food could not be so easily imported ? big big difference from the war time drive to grow homegrown food and now, yes yes the productivity, varieties, knowledge has changed in leaps and bounds but so to has the massive growth of the UKs population, at the same time the population increases so to has the loss forever of productive land that could have grown food, a loss of between 12,000 - 30,000 acres a year lost to development ?

UK population in 1930 - 46 million.

Won’t be far off 70 million before long.
 

Ted M

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Shropshire
I contacted the ASA online regarding Quorn making up the facts regarding livestock ghg emissions in an advert they ran in conjunction with Liverpool football club.
The complaint was upheld and they had to pull the ad.
Unfortunately that's where the story ends, no public apology or financial ramifications for the company.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
I contacted the ASA online regarding Quorn making up the facts regarding livestock ghg emissions in an advert they ran in conjunction with Liverpool football club.
The complaint was upheld and they had to pull the ad.
Unfortunately that's where the story ends, no public apology or financial ramifications for the company.

I haven't seen what was published but it used to be the case that a publication had to publish both sides of a story on the grounds of fairness. I have used that ruling myself on occasion. So definitely worth challenging any publication that doesn't, just pass it on to the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

If anyone sees something in print that is patently untrue, I would urge them to report it. Editors really don't like you doing this and they do take notice! (Now, how do I know that? :)).
 

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Fields to Fork Festival 2025 offers discounted tickets for the farming community.

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The Fields to Fork Festival celebrating country life, good food and backing British farming is due to take over Whitebottom Farm, Manchester, on 3rd & 4th May 2025!

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Alexander McLaren, Founder of Fields to Fork Festival says “British produce and rural culture has never needed the spotlight more than it does today. This festival is our way of celebrating everything that makes...
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