Celebration of Prince’s Countryside Fund Fifth Anniversary at Highgrove House, Gloucestershire

Centre: Katherine Williams Network Officer, Right: Dave Knight Network Chairman with HRH Prince of Wales

Upland farmers from Exmoor have come together to state their ambitions to deliver for people and

the environment through a reshaped agricultural policy, as the UK prepares to leave the European

Union. The priorities of Exmoor farmers are twofold: firstly to keep the benefits for the public and

society from upland areas such as clean water, carbon storage, diverse wildlife, recreation and

tourism; and secondly to support viable farm businesses that also maintain the special landscape

features of the National Park whilst taking into account revised trading and support policies.

 

The “Exmoor Ask” is for a package of public and private investment, overseen by the National Park

Authority, together with expert advice, local monitoring, binding contracts and a focus on innovation

to develop new market opportunities. These ideas are being put forward by the Exmoor Hill Farming

Network following their ‘Brexit’ discussion meeting held in December, which was attended by over

50 people. The farmer-led steering group of the Exmoor Hill Farming Network has worked with

Professor Janet Dwyer of the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) at the University

of Gloucester to produce a position statement from these discussions.

 

“Exmoor is special, shown through its designation as a National Park. It has been produced

by centuries of farming and the management of its iconic landscape features such as beech

hedges, heather moorlands and ancient woodlands,” said the Exmoor HillFarming Network’s

Chairman Dave Knight. “Exmoor’s farming families care deeply for this landscape and work

closely with many partners to protect and sustain it. We have over 30 years of experience of

which policies work well for Exmoor. The key to better delivery for the public and the

environment is working to national goals and policies through a locally customised scheme,

developed and monitored by a partnership of local farmers and agencies who know what

works in our area.”

 

The Network members have produced their position statement to increase understanding among

the general public, agencies, policy makers and those not familiar with upland farming and Exmoor.

It explains the range of benefits delivered by farming from food, clean water and wood, to wildlife, a

beautiful countryside and features of historical and cultural interest.

 

” The Network will continue to refine their “Ask” as more information emerges through the

coming months, working with other partners and farmer groups,” said Dave Knight. “We

want to be at the table for the ongoing discussions to develop a new agricultural policy as

we leave the European Union.”

 

Download: Exmoor Delivers for People and the Environment