Its mission aim, according to its website, is to "help adults and children alike make the most of the incredible remedial and educational benefits of being involved in the natural environment.
[21] The Casting for Recovery programme was set up by The Foundation to provide women affected by breast cancer treatment with an opportunity to learn the sport of fly fishing as part of a free weekend retreat.
[23][24] In a profile piece written by David Profumo for The Daily Telegraph, the programme is described as being "aimed at students in secondary education, especially those with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and a spectrum of special needs.
Working alongside teachers in and out of the classroom, it explores core curricular subjects (maths, natural science, English) through the medium of angling and its range of associated skills – social, practical and interactive.
[36] In November 2019, the Countryside Alliance produced a report which detailed the number of crimes recorded by police forces at churches and other religious buildings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland using powers under Freedom of Information laws.
"[38] The Countryside Alliance describes the food and farming industry as "nationally important" arguing it is responsible for "generating over £108 billion a year for the UK economy and employing one in eight people.
It argued "Country of origin food labelling must be mandatory for all processed meat to ensure a level playing field for hard-working British farmers after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
"[41] A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance attended the occupation on 7 October 2019 to record a public video, opposing Animal Rebellion and calling on consumers to back UK farmers and sustainable meat production.
According to its website, The Countryside Alliance supports all forms of legal hunting, but continues to make clear that it will oppose what they believe is ultimately a bad piece of legislation.
The group has stated that the ban, brought forward by the then Labour administration under Tony Blair, is "the worst possible example of a law that was passed as an attack on a minority in society".
[49] During the UK General Election of 2019 the group welcomed an announcement by the Conservative Party, which pledged to fast-track a plan for a 'Shared Rural Network', which the Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed would see new masts built and existing infrastructure shared between the four mobile phone providers – 02, Three, Vodafone and EE.
The group stated on its website that "The Countryside Alliance is concerned that Labour's proposals to renationalise BT risks delaying broadband delivery in rural areas.
By removing private investment and stifling competition, especially in the most remote areas of the countryside, they will disincentivise other tech businesses from delivering innovative solutions which are so important in closing the digital divide.
While a central focus of the march was to show opposition to a ban on hunting with hounds in England and Wales, a wide range of other grievances from rural communities were also being linked with the demonstration around farming.
[59] The Countryside Alliance has previously expressed repeated concern over the governance of the RSPCA, which it argues has resulted in the charity pursuing "extremely questionable activities".
The RSPCA responded by saying: "Sir Barney White-Spunner's interview shows once again how far out of touch he and his colleagues at the pro-bloodsports Countryside Alliance are with the reality of public opinion in this country.