1 Introduction
Background
1. The English uplands include some of the most
dramatic and cherished landscapes in the country.[1]
There is no precise definition of 'uplands'—they are semi-natural
habitats, including wet and dry dwarf shrub heaths, blanket bog
and other mires, scrub, bracken and grasslands (including acid,
calcareous and neutral). The uplands are largely, but not exclusively,
above the upper limits of enclosed farmland and have to some extent
been formed by generations of agricultural activity.[2]
This inquiry was prompted in part by our recognition of the special
nature of agriculture in the uplands and the Commission for Rural
Communities' (CRC) report on the uplands, High ground, high
potential—a future for England's upland communities.[3]
2. We announced the inquiry on 16 September[4]
and received 25 written submissions.[5]
We took oral evidence from Dr Stuart Burgess, the Chairman of
the CRC and Rural Advocate, Professor Mark Shucksmith, Commissioner,
CRC, Tenant Farmers Association (TFA),[6]
National Farmers Union (NFU) and Country Land and Business Association
(CLA),[7] and English National
Park Authorities Association (ENPAA)[8]
and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, James Paice
MP.[9] We are very grateful
to all those who helped us with our inquiry.
3. The CRC launched its inquiry into the future
of England's upland communities on 11 February 2009. The aim of
the inquiry was to "identify and evaluate the drivers of
change in upland communities, and to develop policy recommendations
to enable and equip them to move towards more secure, economically
prosperous and sustainable futures".[10]
In High ground, high potential the CRC explained the rationale
for undertaking its inquiry:
...the English uplands are valuable national assets
worthy of protection not only in their own right but because of
the many natural and cultural resources they generate. [...] Yet
these communities are under threat, facing as they do a number
of social, demographic and economic challenges in a period of
quite extraordinary change....[11]
4. High ground, high potential
was published on 15 June 2010. In the report the CRC made 35 recommendations
covering: strategy and leadership; empowering upland communities;
securing a future for hill farmers and funding farmers; developing
new markets and encouraging enterprise; planning and community
development; and broadband and mobile communications (Annex 1
lists the recommendations in High ground, high potential).
The recommendations cover issues that are the responsibility of
several Government departments including the Department of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Communities and Local Government
Department (CLG), the Department for Business, Innovation and
Skills (BIS) and the Department for Energy and Climate Change
(DECC).
5. The majority of the written evidence submitted
to our inquiry supported the broad aims of the recommendations
in High ground, high potential. We have focussed on farming
in the uplands, although we have touched on other issues that
affect upland communities. The principal output of farming in
the uplands is livestock (beef and sheep meat production), although
dairying is also important in some regions.[12]
Many consider farming to be critical to preserving the uplands'
landscapes and communities. Defra, in its written evidence, referred
to the public view that upland economies, communities and landscape
would suffer if farming declined. The special nature of farming
in the uplands was acknowledged in many of the submissions to
the inquiry. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
(AHDB) said that:
It is widely recognised that farmers involved in
livestock production are responsible for the stewardship of the
bulk of our upland landscapes and habitats. In many cases, livestock
farming represents the only opportunity to manage land through
agriculture with land either too steep for cultivation or above
the tree line at which point even forestry becomes impossible.[13]
6. In its report the CRC noted that now only
5.2% of the uplands workforce is directly employed in agriculture
or forestry.[14] However,
the CRC described hill farming as "a way of life that remains
central to most of the uplands".[15]
Professor Shucksmith expanded on this during oral evidence. He
told us that one of his top priorities from the report was the
need "... to emphasise and to recognise the interdependence
of the hill farmers and the public goods and assets with the upland
communities in which they're embedded".[16]
7. We have considered the recommendations made
in High ground, high potential and the reaction to them
by interested parties. This report broadly follows the
structure of High ground, high potential. We have naturally
focussed on the issues most relevant to the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) but have also considered matters
that are the principal responsibility of other Government departments.
We expect Defra to consider our recommendations alongside those
made by the Commission for Rural Communities in formulating its
uplands strategy.
1 In this inquiry we have used the same definition
of the uplands as the Commission for Rural Communities. See High
ground, high potential, page 26 Back
2
See Ev 68 for description of upland geography and habitats. Back
3
High ground, high potential - a future for England's upland
communities, Commission for Rural Communities, 15 June 2010,
Hereinafter 'High ground, high potential'. Back
4
The Terms of reference for the inquiry are at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news/farming-in-the-uplands/ Back
5
Written evidence to the inquiry is at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/publications/ Back
6
George Dunn, Chief Executive, and Mike Keeble, Uplands Spokesman,
Tenant Farmers Association Back
7
Dr Andrew Clark, Head of Policy, NFU, Will Cockbain, Uplands Spokesman,
NFU, William Worsley, President, CLA, and Professor Allan Buckwell,
Director of Policy, CLA Back
8
Dr Nigel Stone, Chief Executive, Exmoor National Park, and Peter
Barfoot, Head of Conservation, North York Moors National Park,
English National Park Authorities Association Back
9
Accompanied by Jeremy Eppel, Deputy Director, Uplands, and Dan
Osgood, Deputy Director, Environmental Land Management, Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Back
10
Commission for Rural Communities, High ground, high potential:
a future for England's upland communities, July 2010, p 5 Back
11
High ground, high potential, p 22. Back
12
Ev 71 Back
13
Ev w26 Back
14
High ground, high potential , p 4. Manufacturing and the
wholesale and retail trade are the dominant employers in the uplands
(34%). Back
15
High ground, high potential, p 22. Back
16
Q 6 Back
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