Give hill farms recognition call

4:42pm Tuesday 8th February 2011

  • Print
  • Email
  • Share
  • Comments(0)

    THE work of upland farmers in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria should be recognised across the world, according to experts.

    David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, says the contribution of upland farming is not being recognised nationally and internationally.

    “Ninety-nine per cent of the national park is in private ownership, so you don’t need to be a genius to work out the size of the contribution that farmers and landowners make to this jewel in the
    landscape,” he said.

    “In addition, it is these areas that will be critical in the fight against climate change because they contain huge amounts of peat, which are vital stores of carbon.

    “Managing this land well will make a major contribution to controlling carbon emissions, as well as improving water quality and the wildlife of the area.

    “Indeed, if these giant ‘sponges’ of peat are well maintained, it might just help to prevent some of the terrible floods that have been seen in recent years.

    “All of this is on top of the value of the produce that comes from these areas and the contribution these landscapes make to the regional economy – 34,000 jobs in the region and £1.8 billion of
    sales are directly dependent on the beauty of the farmed landscapes.”

    Mr Butterworth believes the approaching reform of Common Agricultural Policy is a perfect time to redress the balance.

    “Surely, this hill farming contribution has to enter the equation when the discussion on CAP reform takes place?” he said.

    “The Dales might still have its share of down-to-earth, rugged farming folk, but the area itself is fragile, as is its economy.

    “In these critical discussions on the future of farming it is important to recognise the contribution of Dales’ farmers.”

    Alison O’Neill, of Shacklabank Farm, in the Howgills, near Sedbergh, agrees hill farmers are undervalued and more support is needed.

    She said. “If you go to Europe they really do think a lot of their farmers for the food they provide. I think the public in England value us – it is the Government which doesn’t support hill
    farmers enough.

    “It is almost like they do not really want farmers any more, and because the landscape has always looked like this they forget that farmers and those who live in the hills look after it.

    “Most tourists come here for the views.

    “If people stopped farming we wouldn’t have those views, with stone walls, hay meadows and lambs in the fields. It all goes hand in hand.”

    • Print
    • Email
    • Share
    • Comments(0)

    Your sayYour Gazette

    Add your comment

    Register for a FREE The Westmorland Gazette account and you can have your say on today’s news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

    Please register now or sign in below to continue.

    http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/farm_and_country/8840025.Give_hill_farms_recognition_call/