Hill Farmers’ Funding Blocked by Lakes Landowner

The commoners of Grasmere Common in the Lake District want to apply to Natural England to deliver an Upland Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (UELS) on their common. This scheme pays them to farm in an environmentally sympathetic manner using their traditional pastoral farming systems. In order to complete the application they need the owner to countersign sign the forms to confirm that he or she knows what is going on.  Nine times out of ten there is no problem, but in this case the owner, Lowther Estates Trust is refusing to sign the form so denying the commoners access to a much needed payment.

The Foundation for Common Land has joined forces with National Trust, the Moorland Association, the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, the Lake District National Park Authority, the Tenant Farmers Association and Robin Milton Chair of NFU Hill & Uplands Group. We have asked Defra to revise their rules so that taxpayers' money can, and does, get to commoners who wish to undertake good land management, sustain their cultural heritage and deliver other benefits such as improved water quality, reduced risk of flooding and better wildlife.

For media coverage in this issue:

RADIO

You can listen to an interview on Radio 4 Farming Today bout this issue with Julia Aglionby (from the Foundation) and Andrew Fox the manager for Lowther Esates Trust. 

PRESS

Read the  articles in Farmers' Guardian; Westmorland Gazette and download the article in the Sunday Times (27 May 14)

We have also sent a letter to the press to highligh this situation. You can download the letter here