Derek Barber, Lord Barber of Tewkesbury, who has died aged 99, spent much of his long career in public life trying to bridge the gap between modern farming and the conservation of wildlife and landscape. His strong advocacy for modern farming went alongside a great love of the countryside and a deep knowledge of birds. With a convert’s passion, Barber took up the cause of conservation, but as a friend of farmers, not as their opponent. In 1981, he was appointed by Michael Heseltine, then environment secretary, to be chairman of the Countryside Commission. • Derek Coates Barber, Lord Barber of Tewkesbury, farmer, public servant and conservationist, born 17 June 1918; died 21 November 2017

Source: The Guardian December 03, 2017 17:26 UTC