EDM 807: Hill farming

That this House recognises hill farming to be critical to the protection and restoration of beautiful British upland farmland; acknowledges the world class standards of animal husbandry and food production practised by British upland farmers; notes that hill farmers work to improve biodiversity through sheep grazing and the protection of wetlands and woodlands; further recognises the efforts of hill farmers to improve water quality and reduce water run-off across their land, which provides vital natural flood mitigation; also recognises the flood mitigation work of upland farmers in Longsleddale and Kentmere protecting homes in Kendal, Staveley, and Burneside from devastating floods; understands hill farmers protect peatlands which capture and store carbon; remembers that when UNESCO gave the Lake District World Heritage Status, they gave equal credit for landscape formation to hill farmers as they did the glaciers; further notes therefore with concern that, despite this, hill farmers’ livelihoods are at risk from delays to new Government higher-tier support schemes, and are receiving only 8% of the Government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive despite the uplands occupying around 15% of England’s area; urges the Government to consider the vital benefits of hill farming for environment and national cultural heritage when assessing competing demands on land through the Land Use Framework; and calls on the Government to dedicate further support to upland farmers to reflect their vital work to protect natural landscapes.