Stocking rate questions unanswered by Dartmoor review response

A government response to the independent Dartmoor review has left serious questions about land management and stocking rates unanswered, according to Robin Milton, a member of the NFU Uplands Forum and trustee for the Foundation for Common Land.

The independent review, chaired by David Fursdon, was established in June 2023 in response to growing conflict between Natural England and Dartmoor commoners over farming practices, in particular the number of animals being kept on the moor.

This week, Defra issued its response to the review, confirming the establishment of a new Land Use Management Group in autumn 2024, which will sit for two years.

But Mr Milton told Farmers Weekly this would come “almost too late”.

“This still hasn’t really addressed the stocking questions,” he said.

“Farmers are going to need to determine the range of livestock they’ve got by the autumn – that’s when you buy and sell your stock – so they need to know what they’re doing by then,” he said.

Mr Milton also raised concerns about how effective the group would be, given that it has no statutory powers.

“I hope it will be successful, but I have this fear that it could potentially, if they’re not very careful, turn into another talking shop heavily populated by stakeholders with an external interest and very limited farmer involvement.

“Having a land management group that would need to rely on a lot of goodwill to produce something that actually works is going to be one hell of a challenge.”

Defra says it aims to “ensure farmers on Dartmoor are supported to produce food sustainably and run viable businesses, while protecting important habitats and species”.

The department has also written to all Higher Level Stewardship agreement holders on Dartmoor, setting out plans for further annual extensions into 2025. 

Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said: “Since the review’s publication, we’ve taken steps to rebuild trust with farmers and are advising our colleagues in Defra to make sure commoners are given the right support to run viable farm businesses that also work for nature.

“We look forward to working with the Land Use Management Group to pull together a plan for the peat restoration, tree planting and sustainable grazing needed to restore nature, for everybody who cares about Dartmoor.”