NSA welcomes findings placing farming central to Dartmoor land management
14th December 2023
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is welcoming the publication of recommendations from the Dartmoor independent inquiry that confirm pastoral farming is an integral part in the areas future land management.
The findings were released yesterday (Wednesday 13th December) following the inquiry having been completed in a timely and inclusive manner. NSA commends the inquiry panel for this and its highly detailed, thoughtful, and integrated report.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “There is so much to consider within the findings of this work but I would start by highlighting the fact that commoning and pastoralism were found to have an important part to play in the future management of Dartmoor. One of the challenges farming has is to maintain a highly sensitive and traditional approach to the agriculture and grazing on the moor while the sector is constantly dragged in a sometimes conflicting direction of high efficiency/ economic pressures/ and supply chain and market trends. I’m not convinced we can have one without consideration of the wider pressures on farming so its crucial that we connect the findings of this report with new Defra initiatives such as the small abattoir fund to start to change not just farming practices but wider supply chain issues as well. This is also exactly why NSA established the British Heritage Sheep initiative aiming to create an asset from our genetic heritage and diversity.”
NSA supports the key recommendations made in the report and feels an independent and inclusive land use management group will be an essential pivot for future success with shared vision and a realistic reward for farmers and businesses on Dartmoor contributing to the wider public interests, including greater awareness of the value of often unseen benefits provided by the farmers on and around the moor. Sadly, NSA also recognises the observation in the report that the relationship between Natural England and the farming community has broken down and will take significant time and investment to repair.
Mr Stocker concludes: “So much of this is about communication and respect, and a shared ownership. But it also needs investment of time and money and that in itself raises a bigger question as to whether the Government and the Treasury are prepared to put a real value on the environment or whether they will continue to expect a silk purse to come from a sows ear.”
