WEST Devon farm B&Bs are angry over an email sent by a Government-backed green tourism organisation recommending that visitors to the South West should eat less red meat — in order to save the planet.

Farm accommodation providers say the traditional farmhouse breakfast and roast dinners are a major factor in why people come to stay with them and any move like this would impact on their livelihoods.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) sent an email newsletter to members across the region that offer tourist accommodation, saying visitors should be fed less meat to cut down on the number of cows on the planet. Cows are known to produce high levels of methane — a key greenhouse gas.

Angela Dallyn from Devon Farms Accommodation is furious: 'Most of our members are livestock farmers and it doesn't take much intelligence to realise that such a message to those of us whose livelihood depends on people enjoying the dairy and meat products that we produce is going to cause dismay and anger.

'As an organisation we have fully supported the GTBS and worked hard to encourage members to embrace green tourism and join up. Now I am hearing of members saying that they will not be renewing and I must admit it will be very difficult for Devon Farms to continue to support the scheme.'

In its email the GTBS states: 'This is a busy time of the year for many of our members and providing meals to visitors can make up a large slice of a business's income. But have you considered the impact these meals may be having on the global environment, especially through using meat and fish on the menu?

'The GTBS gives credit for the provision of a significant amount of vegetarian options as it is important for health and environmental reasons to encourage people to eat less meat.

'We recognise that intensive meat production methods are responsible for a large amount of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as well as being associated with deforestation to make way for growing grain to feed cattle.'

Hilary Tucker, who runs a B&B at Beera Farm, Milton Abbot, said it was a big selling point to be able to give customers home-produced lamb and beef, and they loved it: 'I have been running a B&B for 12 years and I cannot imagine serving a farmhouse breakfast without sausage and bacon.

'I would think flying abroad on holiday would produce a higher carbon footprint than a few cows. I try to do whatever I can to be green but I think this is going too far. We can all do our bit by making sure we recycle and things like that.'

Martin and Mavis Bickle from Knole Farm at Bridestowe have been serving up farmhouse fayre at their farm B&B for 32 years.

Mr Bickle said: 'We do get some vegetarians but the majority of people want meat.

'People come back year after year and mostly for the food because my wife is a very good cook. You come to a dairy, beef and sheep farm for good farmhouse food and that includes meat.'

Mr Bickle said there was a time when the Government gave out huge grants to farmers to reclaim acres of land to produce food for the nation but now it appeared that there was too much meat.

'If we encourage people to eat less meat there will be less demand and farmers will go out of business. We have a small farm of 100 acres and it is very difficult to make a living from it. We rely on the B&B to keep this farm running.'

In response to the criticism, technical director of GTBS Jon Proctor said: 'Our main concern is the environment and the use of seasonal fare from local producers to cut down on the carbon footprint of unnecessary food miles.

'To this end we encourage members to consider offering a wider range of dishes on their menus, including vegetarian options, which benefit both the environment and the local economies.'

He said GTBS welcomed feedback in future newsletters: 'GTBS is committed to supporting good farming. We remain strong advocates of locally sourced meat products which provide consumers with high quality food.'