Initiated by the Federation of Cumbria Commoners, the Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association, and West Lakeland CIC, following local concerns about changes to stocking levels in Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) rollover agreements from 2020 onwards.
Farmers and commoners understood that some of these changes were being shaped by Natural England’s 2020 report, Grazing Regimes for Nature Recovery, and wanted to better understand the evidence being used to negotiate stocking rates on the high fells.
This final review is the first phase of the project ‘Grazing for Good’ and has now been completed by an independent scientific panel and can be read here – Grazing-for-Good-Report-2026
Outcomes from the review
- No magic number exists – the science doesn’t support a one-size fits all approach
- Habitat recovery is about more than sheep numbers – nature recovery is shaped by a complex mix of factors
- Local conditions matter – different habitats require different grazing pressures
If you would like to read more about the review and respond please visit the National Sheep Associations website HERE.