Natural England urge hill farmers to join Uplands ELS

Under the new scheme, delivered by Natural England on behalf of Defra, farmers will receive a standard payment of £62 per hectare - more than double existing ELS rates – depending on land type.

Robin Tucker, executive director for national delivery, said: “We recognise the crucial role that hill farmers play as custodians of the upland environment.

“Uplands ELS will reward farmers and land managers who combine food production with care for these special landscapes.”

Each farmer will receive a letter and booklet ahead of the launch of the scheme, which opens in 2010, outlining the future land management options for farmers.

Meetings, farm walks and workshops are also being used to promote the scheme which will replace the Hill Farm Allowance.

But the NFU warned Natural England not to ignore the importance of food production and the market place alongside other public benefits of upland farming.

Will Cockbain, NFU uplands spokesman, said: “Agri-environment schemes like Upland ELS should reward upland farmers for the public goods they deliver, but the market place is important too and the two need to be compatible and deliver economic as well as environmental security.”

Commenting ahead of Natural England’s Upland Vision, which is being published on November 12, Mr Cockbain continued: “Some of the stocking densities being requested by Natural England in parts of the uplands are so low as to be impractical and threaten the very viability of farming that the Vision must protect.

“If Natural England continues down this route they risk a serious breakdown in relations with the farming community. Farmers can and should deliver both food and environment but a more common sense approach is needed,” he said.

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