Natural England told to change approach with Dartmoor farmers

Ministers will now consider the review's recommendations

The government agency Natural England has been told it needs to completely change its approach to engaging with farmers on Dartmoor.

The recommendation is from an independent review into the management of the moor.

It comes after farmers opposed the agency's plans to reduce sheep numbers earlier this year.

Natural England said it "welcomed" the review and would consider the recommendations before responding.

'Conservation grazing'

The independent review stated Natural England "must recognise the scale of the challenge it faces to rebuild trust and confidence on Dartmoor".

The report, commissioned by the government, also recommends a significant increase in Natural England's staffing in order to improve its relationship with Dartmoor stakeholders.

Natural England said: "Our priority has always been, and will always be, to work in the combined best interests of nature and farmers on Dartmoor"

Monitoring the moor's protected landscapes should also be "made more transparent and fit for purpose", according to the report.

The report said more cattle were needed for "conservation grazing" to combat the spread of purple moor grass which was "out-competing other vegetation and creating a tussocky, bleached, landscape where few animals will graze apart from a short period in late spring and early summer".

But sheep farmers were warned they "need to demonstrate they can shepherd their flocks to protect heather and dwarf shrubs from being overgrazed".

The report concluded: "If this isn't successful we recognise there will be pressure to remove sheep from affected areas."

'Collective action'

Dave Slater, Natural England regional director for the south west, said: "Our priority has always been, and will always be, to work in the combined best interests of nature and farmers on Dartmoor.

"The review however makes clear we need to look at how we can better communicate this with farmers and set out what support is available to them."

He said as the government's advisor for the natural environment, Natural England has a "statutory duty" to protect these sites and there was evidence the ecological condition of Dartmoor "has declined significantly".

"We have spent a lot of time listening this year. Natural England is committed to recovering and improving Dartmoor's habitats and, vitally, ensuring farmers are properly supported and rewarded for the role they play.

"This will require collective action and trust between all partners - and we are ready to play our part and make the changes required of us."

Ministers will now consider the review's recommendations.