The Prime Minister is being challenged to "fast-track not back-track" on support for farmers and nature.

Ahead of an expected announcement on its farming policy review, nature groups are urging Rishi Sunak to maintain Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) funding now and increase funding from 2025, and prioritise ambition across all three tiers.

The groups are asking the PM to reverse Liz Truss' perceived 'attack on nature' of by fast-tracking nature-friendly farming reforms.

Proposals on the future of farming funding are expected later this month, after the government announced a review of its farming policy.

This includes a review of ELMS payments, first announced in 2018 to support farmers to deliver for nature and climate, and to assure future food security.

There are now concerns the government may reduce this stream of funding, particularly for landscape recovery measures as part of anticipated public spending cuts.

Yet new research from Wildlife and Countryside Link, conducted by YouGov, shows that nearly 7 in 10 people want public funding for farmers to carry out environmental and animal welfare improvements at or above EU Common Agricultural Policy levels (of £2.4billion a year).

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Nearly half of Brits (48 per cent) support increasing funding and only 4 per cent support reducing it.

Water pollution is the top environmental issue the public want the government to pay farmers to tackle with 86 per cent support financial incentives for this.

This is followed closely by restoring wildlife, woodland, lakes and rivers (all receiving 84 per cent support), 83 per cent support financial rewards for improved soil health, 79 per cent for hedgerows and 77 per cent for restoring carbon dioxide-capturing land like peatland and wetlands.

The findings also show that the public believes restoring natural resources, like pollinators and clean water, is the most important way to improve food security in the UK, with 47 per cent saying this compared to only 25 per cent saying other factors are more important.

Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “The Prime Minister should fast track environmental farming reforms, not back track, if he is to start rebuilding the government’s environmental credentials.

"Any further delay would leave farmers uncertain about the future, and leave the environment susceptible.

"Instead, the government should accelerate the move to regenerative farming, and increase the payments available to support the most ambitious nature positive  agriculture.

“The public know that the future of farming depends on a healthy natural environment and back more funding for modern, green farming practices. After all, farmers are responsible for the future of three quarters of England. Doubling the budget to support environmental land management would still be a total bargain at the price.”