The future of farming on Dartmoor?
A look at how the new Landscape Recovery Scheme may shape farming practices on Dartmoor over the next 20 years.
There is tremendous public interest in the ideas behind ‘Rewilding’. In February, a panel discussion on ‘The Future of Nature on Dartmoor’1 saw Ashburton Art’s Centre packed to overflowing, with the public coming from far and wide. There are many strands to the debate; only some could be introduced, much less debated, in an afternoon's discussion.
Such discussions reveal how some people are looking for simple solutions, as one panel member proposed: ‘Could you just fence off areas of the Moor and let nature return? - excluding deer has been successful in parts of Scotland. ' 'Are there just too many sheep on Dartmoor?’.
It was fortunate that Naomi Oakley from Challacombe Farm was on the panel. She spoke authoritatively from the experience of running an organic farm - where sheep and cattle numbers are kept within numbers that can be wholly supported by the grass grown on the farm. She also highlighted the role grazing plays in preserving some of the important archaeological sites at Challacombe.
Other panel members spoke warmly of their experience visiting Challacombe and its measures to support wildlife and encourage public access. Yet, as Naomi was the first to point out, this is a venture where both she and her partner have separate employment, bringing in further income. One was left wondering how this fits with the other farms on Dartmoor.
The government is completely revising its approach to farm funding. The new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) includes one Scheme aimed at a small proportion of particularly valuable landscapes.
The Landscape Recovery2 Scheme is
“for landowners and managers who want to take a more radical and large-scale approach”. The aim is “a new approach to supporting long-term, significant habitat restoration and land use change” to satisfy a demand from “the general public who want to see our most precious and beautiful landscapes restored and rejuvenated”.
We invited Mark Owen, Naomi’s partner at Challacombe, and secretary to the Central Dartmoor Farm Cluster to tell us more about how this will affect Dartmoor:
Changes to farming on Dartmoor
Mark Owen
Farming has been the main land use on Dartmoor for over 5,000 years. Today over 90% of the land within the National Park boundary is used for farming. As a result of Government policies, since the Second World War, farming on Dartmoor became more intensive, with increased numbers of sheep and cattle. Alongside this, the introduction of hardier sheep breeds, meant that sheep could be kept out year-round. These changes in farming have been blamed for a decline in wildlife abundancy, with many of our uplands being described as ‘sheep-wrecked’.
However, there are no doubt other factors at play such as atmospheric pollution, climate change, losses elsewhere for migratory species, increased visitor pressure (and in particular disturbance by dogs). With less than 7% of Dartmoor Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) rated as being in favourable condition, it is clear that the current system of agri-environment schemes is not working.
The situation came to a head early last year, when Natural England proposed a significant reduction in sheep numbers on a number of Dartmoor Commons designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) before they would agree to renew their agri-environment schemes. This led to a debate in Parliament and the setting up of the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor chaired by David Fursdon. This review reported back In December and makes recommendations for Defra to consider on the future management of Dartmoor’s sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), helps assess the performance of Dartmoor National Park, and makes a case for future funding. In particular it states that
“Dartmoor cannot either stand still or retreat into its past. More than anything, it needs a Dartmoor-wide, landscape level, vision, supported by a clear delivery strategy.”
The Central Dartmoor Farm Cluster, is a coalition of 10 farms, mostly in Widecombe and Postbridge, who came together several years ago to explore ways of becoming more environmentally and economically sustainable. Initially focusing on the conservation of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly, they expanded to work with the Upstream Thinking project to trial herbal leys, and undertake other conservation projects.
Last Autumn, they worked closely with the Duchy of Cornwall to successfully submit a proposal for a Landscape Recovery scheme. This is the most ambitious tier of the Government’s new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) which are being rolled out to replace previous EU funding such as the Basic Payment Scheme.
Landscape Recovery differs from the other tiers of ELMS in that rather than having a list of actions that land managers can apply for, it asks land managers to develop a bespoke, innovative and ambitious plan to deliver environmental and climate benefits on a large scale, and justify how delivering this will offer good value for the public purse. The reward for successful applications will be 20+ years of funding, and as they will deliver more than the other tiers of ELMS (Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship) will attract a higher level of funding. This means that it is the most competitive to get into, and currently only 3% of the country’s farmland is in a Landscape Recovery project area.
The Cluster’s proposal is
“To bring together farmers, landowners, conservationists and people with an interest and love for Dartmoor who share our vision of making the moor better for nature and people, and more resilient to climate change, whilst still producing high quality food and a sustainable income for farmers. Together we can create a clear long-term vision for what we all want the moor to be like in the future, and then work out how to make it happen.”
The project is due to start in mid-May, and once key staff are recruited, the first stage will be to add detail to Dartmoor Farming Futures3, the Moorland Vision, and other plans to develop a vision of what we would like each parcel of land to look like in the future. This will be complex and will involve gathering and collation of baseline data and lots of consultation on the factors that need to be balanced alongside food, fibre and timber production on every land parcel. These nature and climate factors include:
Habitats: Heathland, Atlantic rainforest, hay meadows, wood pasture, rhos pasture, herbal leys, bogs and mires etc
Species: Curlew, Fritillaries, Salmon, Spotted Flycatcher, Cuckoo, Otter etc
Public access: Paths, open access land, education, under-represented groups
Heritage and Archaeology: Including farming traditions e.g. gatherings
Water: Quality and quantity, Natural Flood management
Carbon: Peatland restoration, trees, and soil
Employment and training opportunities
Climate resilience
Alongside this, will be work looking at the economics of farming on Dartmoor to ensure that in delivering these public benefits, farms remain profitable. Dartmoor is largely a pastoral landscape, and although patterns of grazing may change, a mix of cattle, sheep and ponies will remain a core part of its management, and so it’s crucial we retain the skills, experience and infrastructure that local farmers can provide. Being farmer-led, food production will also be a core part of the plans, with elements of the project looking at improving animal health and productivity and adding value to produce.
Although the Cluster’s proposal was developed separately, it is very closely aligned with the recommendations of the Fursdon review4. This should help with getting agreement on all sides, and reflects that they were both looking to come up with a solution to the same set of issues.
At the end of the two-year development stage, the Cluster have to submit to DEFRA a detailed plan that outlines how they will deliver and then monitor a wide range of public benefits. If this plan is accepted as offering good value for public money, we will be offered a 20+ year grant, with each farm and Common being able to decide then whether they want to sign up.
Covering over 90 sq miles (23,000 hectares) the Central Dartmoor Landscape Recovery project is by far the largest Landscape Recovery project so far approved. However, it is just one of 3 schemes on Dartmoor, the others being the Walkham Valley / catchment developed by Dartmoor National Park Authority and the East Dartmoor Landscape Recovery project led by the Devon Wildlife Trust. This means that Dartmoor has a higher proportion of land within Landscape Recovery than any other National Park or National Landscape (the new name for AONBs). Looking ahead, this area could get even bigger as the Cluster is in discussion with other Commons Associations and DEFRA about including more land, as this corresponds with the recommendations of the Fursdon review to integrate agri-environment agreements on adjacent commons.
So, whilst the Cluster has set themselves an ambitious amount of work to do over the next two years, if they are successful it will result in Dartmoor being better for nature, people whilst securing the role of farmers in managing the landscape. If you want to find out more, or sign up to our newsletter visit:
www. www.dartmoorfarmcluster.org/landscape-recovery
As a broad topic of great interest to many in Widecombe, we would be happy to accept further articles on any aspect of the future of Dartmoor. You are also very welcome to leave comments below…
“The Future of Nature on Dartmoor”
A blog post about the meeting at Ashburton Arts Centre.
Landscape Recovery - the DEFRA guidelines.
Farming Futures pioneered “farmer engagement in the design, delivery and monitoring of environmental outcomes,” and the scheme's lessons helped shape Landscape Recovery. The website includes videos of participants, including farmers, discussing the scheme.
Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor
For a government report this is a very accessible document, well worth reading. It includes an overview of farming practices past and present. As we publish this article the government has just issued its response.
A very interesting article about an ongoing initiative of which I was only vaguely aware. Thank you. Hope there's a follow up next year