Upland sheep farmers in Lake District fear for future

Upland farmers in the Lake District say their traditional sheep farming communities face an uncertain future due to reductions in stock numbers to comply with environmental policy.

Keith Rowand, an upland farmer with long-standing heritage in the Lake District, has written to King Charles to raise concerns about the preservation of traditional upland farming in the area.

Mr Rowand has been farming at Stool End Farm at the top of the Langdale Valley for almost 50 years. He told Farmers Weekly that policies to reduce sheep numbers in hefted flocks were already having an impact.

See also: More support for upland farmers demanded in petition

“Sheep farmers across the Lake District are now suffering the hardship of having to gather their sheep from neighbouring fells,” he said.

Out of control

“Some sheep are wandering off for miles into other hefts. The situation is out of control. The problem is, when you remove sheep from one area, the remaining sheep just flock in.”

Mike Toms, a sheep farming neighbour of Mr Rowand, said hill farms need a steady income to survive, but the reduction of the BPS and its replacement with environmental schemes does not provide sufficient income to keep the farms viable.

“Farmers joining environmental schemes are being asked to reduce sheep numbers in the belief that it will improve the quality and diversity of herbage on the commons,” he added.

“This is debatable and open to discussion.

“The National Trust is encouraging new tenants to enter environmental schemes, partly because they believe there will be a conservation benefit and partly because they believe income from the scheme will help to keep the farm viable.”

Nigel Hollingworth, who lives and works in Langdale Valley, has launched a “Save Herdy and World Heritage petition” to change the framework of governance of upland farming in the Lake District (see “Petition launched to save Herdwick sheep in the Lake District”).

In March, the National Trust wrote to secretary of state Therese Coffey calling for greater government support and improved funding for upland farmers through Defra’s Environmental Land Management scheme.

No rewilding policy

However, a spokesperson for the trust strongly denied claims it is operating a rewilding policy in the World Heritage site.

“Herdwicks are part of the culture of the Lake District and we remain committed to the preservation and celebration of the breed.”

Natural England told the Westmorland Gazette it works closely with Lakeland farmers and land managers to help them access Defra funding for green schemes to make environmental improvements, “which is often an important way to sustain farming in the uplands and ensuring that Herdwicks continue to be seen on the fells”.

Defra said Herdwick flocks and upland habitats have “highly valued” attributes in the Lake District World Heritage site.

A spokesperson said: “We are supporting Cumbria’s upland farmers through increased payment rates and improved options through our farming scheme and working with them to maintain the distinctive character of the Lake District’s fells.”