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Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative) on Monday, 28 November 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 December 2016. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative) on Monday, 12 December 2016 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hill Farming: Lake District

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the contribution by hill farmers in the Lake District to preserving and improving the environment.

Answer

Hill farming is crucial to maintaining the Lake District’s environment and landscape and is a vital part of our national heritage. Management of grazing plays an important part in preserving the Lake District’s environment, which is home to extensive areas of significant and rare habitat, internationally important rivers and lakes, and key sources of drinking water for the cities of the north west.

Currently 1,000 agreement holders are working in partnership with Natural England through Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship schemes; this amounts to 75% of the farmed area of the Lake District. More than £11m of public money is being invested through these schemes, which are enabling farmers to manage 78,000ha of moorland and to restore features which are part of the farmed landscape. Internal monitoring of these schemes shows that hill farmers have made a contribution to improving the environment on some fells by adopting more environmentally sustainable grazing practices.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL3631
Session
2016-17
Related items
Hill Farming: Lake District
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Environment protection Hill farming Lake District
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk