HRH The Prince of Wales visited a farm near Grasmere last week let by the National Trust to the Benson family, a young family, who are passionate to keep the local hill farming traditions and culture alive
The Prince of Wales was told about the results and next steps of Better Outcomes on Upland Commons, a project inspired by his dedication to the preservation of uplands.
The project sought to establish why, in some places, the same bit of the uplands can successfully deliver incomes for farmers, sporting and game management and tourism, (alongside improving wildlife, water quality and retention, carbon storage and other benefits), while other upland areas are unable to do so.
The Foundation for Common Land has just completed the pilot project working with fifteen national organisations and local people across five upland commons in England. Care was taken to choose upland moorland commons that are particularly valuable for wildlife, the environment and people. The case study areas were in Cumbria, Dartmoor, North York Moors, Shropshire and the Yorkshire Dales.
The project engaged local researchers to find out how all those who had an interest in these five commons are managing the changing pressures and demands they face. They asked them how the land was managed in the past, current arrangements and how they would like to see this common managed in the future.
HRH The Prince of Wales was told that the report found respectful and long enduring relationships between individuals and groups are at the heart of successfully delivering better outcomes on upland commons.
In short, success is down to the attitudes of institutions and individuals and how they approach the challenge.
It is hoped that this learning can be used to reduce tension on commons where conflict between different sectors involved in the management of the common exists.
All the organisations supporting this project want to take this work further. The next stage is to see how they might collectively develop a Heritage Lottery Bid to celebrate and enhance Upland Commons.
