Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:55:20 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305362#Comment_305362 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305362#Comment_305362 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:45:33 +0000 fostertom https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/20/defra-officials-buried-analysis-dire-financial-prospects-hill-farmers-brexit-faming-payments-scheme

This is an issue that's been discussed with some heat, on GBF. One that's been in local news, for me here on Dartmoor. A dilemma that for instance Monbiot explored with great but divided sympathy in his book Feral. Seems to me insoluble without harm to someone.

But fact is, for instance Dartmoor, far from its National Park statutory mission "To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area" is in fact a monoculture ecological desert, like most of British uplands, due to centuries of ever-intensifying upland farming. Namely, far too many sheep, which eat every glimmer of 'natural' vegetation before it starts. A whole rich traditional way of life is built on this.

Defra's analysis merely exposed the obvious. Some experience shows that an alternative economy, with better incomes and employing more people, can be developed, which allows uplands to regenerate - but it won't be 'farming'.

Discuss.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305367#Comment_305367 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305367#Comment_305367 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:08:59 +0000 djh This lack of transparency understandably makes this vulnerable group of farmers worried,” Aglionby said.

“In the uplands there is a huge potential to deliver more for nature and climate adaptation while securing future livelihoods.but there's no hint of what this "huge potential" actually is.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305371#Comment_305371 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305371#Comment_305371 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:45:28 +0000 fostertom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305374#Comment_305374 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305374#Comment_305374 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:13:57 +0000 cjard
Incidentally, I'm not sure that this instruction is a required sign off; this being a discussion forum your invitation is implicit and it thus comes across as peremptory and personally minds me to the contra! ]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305378#Comment_305378 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305378#Comment_305378 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:27:00 +0000 fostertom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305386#Comment_305386 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=18092&Focus=305386#Comment_305386 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:56:56 +0000 Doubting_Thomas Posted By: fostertomSome experience shows that an alternative economy, with better incomes and employing more people, can be developed, which allows uplands to regenerate - but it won't be 'farming'.

Depends on your definition of 'farming' I would argue. As 'stewardship of the land' it absolutely could and should involve the same people with their embedded knowledge of the landscape and specialist skills. There are already some schemes in place that were originally intended to do exactly that.

As ever, the success or otherwise always comes down to the implementation of these schemes, and whether lobbying and loopholes end up creating perverse incentives and unintended consequences. (e.g. RHI payments for chicken farms)

Politically it is hard to justify paying people not to do things (which is what rewilding can sometimes be framed as), but even in these scenarios there is still plenty to do. Just as there is with maintaining environmental exclusion zones in threatened environments and habitats elsewhere (e.g. savannah, amazon rainforest etc.).]]>