On March 7th at The Gavel, Penrith Auction Mart, the Federation of Cumbria Commoners will be examing stocking rates on commons and what works for fell farming and nature recovery.
Come and hear what a well known academic and plant ecologist thinks of Natural England’s blanket stocking rates on commons
In 2020 Natural England (NE) published the report “Grazing Regimes for Nature Recovery: Experience from 25 Years of Agri-Environment Agreements in the Lake District’s High Fells. This report recommends an average annual stocking rate of 0.05 Livestock Units/Ha for nature recovery. Since its publication the report has been highly influential in further reducing the number of sheep grazing Lake District commons and enclosed fell. It is now standard practice for NE advisers to require graziers and their Commoners’ Associations to reduce sheep numbers to meet this one size fits all stocking rate before they will recommend an HLS rollover.
In conjunction with the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Assocation and West Lakeland CIC we engaged Professor Robin Pakeman, Plant Ecologist at the James Hutton Institute to provide an initial review of the report and whether the mandated stocking rates for HLS rollovers across wide areas of the Lake District were appropriate. In brief he did find the methods used by NE have limitations, there are areas where information is lacking and they aren’t necessarily delivering for nature recovery. At the AGM he will explain why.
Farmer-led Habitat Assssment project
We have asked the Farmer-Led Habitat Assessment project at Derwent and Kinniside commons to explain how and why they are learning to assess fell habitats for themselves.
Early results show that when commoners know more about what is growing on their common, they can have better conversations with Natural England staff and the confidence to stand their ground, if needed.
Louise Rawling will also be telling us what she has found out about soils on common land.
Please come along and find out more.
The AGM and conference start at 2.00pm. Tea and coffee provided. All members welcome. For further information please contact Viv Lewis, Administrator on 07748185049 or email viv@cumbriacommoners.org,uk