SARAH Faulkner has been appointed as a policy adviser with specific responsibilities for the environment at the National Farmers' Union's West Midlands office.

She is ideally placed to help members meet the environmental challenges posed by the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy because she has an extensive background in countryside land management and has also just been awarded the status of chartered environmentalist by the Society for the Environment.

"Now, more than ever, we have to be conscious that we're dealing with an environmentally-aware public and the focus is very much on the way farmers manage their land," Sarah said.

"The changes from CAP reform mean that for the first time support payments are linked to the environmental work carried out by farmers.

"While much of this work has been going on for years, the new world in which we live now means that farmers have no choice but to manage their land in an environmentally sensitive way."

Her new post also includes responsibility for the regional poultry board, planning issues and forestry and farm woodland issues.