[National] Project to secure the future of England’s upland commons is underway
A THREE-YEAR, £3m project is underway to help secure the future of upland commons in Dartmoor, the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Shropshire Hills.
At risk of quietly vanishing is a system of iconic people looking after legendary landscapes that benefit society says regional director Mike Innerdale from the National Trust, one of 25 partners [1] backing the project.
In 2021 just 3% (400,000 hectares) of England remains as privately owned common land over which individuals have rights. That includes people, for recreation, and commoners, whose rights include grazing livestock - a feature of many upland farms adjoining common land. [2]
‘Our Upland Commons’, made possible by a major £1.9 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is led by the Foundation for Common Land. Its executive director Julia Aglionby says:
“Commoning has given rise to the centuries old practice of shared land management. It’s a system that gives us many good things - including food, water, access to nature, green space and heritage. And it can help with many 21st century challenges from nature recovery to flood management, carbon storage and wellbeing.”
This project comes at a pivotal time for the 12 commons getting help - totalling 18,000 hectares [3].
“There are serious threats to commons and the system of commoning [4]. If not addressed we’ll lose these rare landscapes and the benefits they bring now and, in the future,” explains Julia Aglionby.
“The Uplands Commons project is all about helping commoners adapt and survive as well as growing the public’s enjoyment of, and respect for, commons and commoning,” she adds.
“Over three years we’ve lots planned, says Sam Caraway, Foundation for Common Land’s project manager:
“From citizen science projects and youngsters learning about environmental management to volunteers repairing heritage features - hill forts to hedges. There’ll be sheep gathering, open farm and night sky events too. And we’ll be improving natural flood management and habitats for birds and butterflies, as well as restoring fragile peatlands. Most importantly there’s lots of help for farmers including making their case for future financial support,” he adds.
“Commons are brimming with nature, history and culture,” says Julia Aglionby.
“You are seven times more likely to find common land has a special nature designation, four times more likely to find an ancient monument and about half (39%) of free access land in England is on common land.
“It’s vital that we recognise and protect our upland commons. And now - thanks to National Lottery players, who say nature is especially important to them, and grants from Esmée Fairbairn and Garfield Weston Foundations amongst others - action is being taken to help secure their future in these four areas,” concludes Julia Aglionby.
Commons are beautiful places to explore and have adventures in. Find them by checking Defra’s MAGIC map https://magic.defra.gov.uk/
Further details about the project and the Foundation for Common Land can be found on their website.
ENDS
Images should be credited as indicated and used for the purposes of this news story only.
Notes to editors and foot notes
[1] The Our Upland Commons partnership is led by the Foundation for Common Land and the accountable body is the National Trust. The 25 partnership members are: Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Preservation Association, Federation of Cumbria Commoners, Foundation for Common Land, Friends of the Lake District, Heather Trust, Lake District National Park Authority, Moorland Association, National Farmers’ Union, National Sheep Association, National Trust, Natural England, Open Spaces Society, RSPB, Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, South West Water, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, University of Cumbria.
[2] First enshrined in law in the Magna Carta in 1215, common land traditionally sustained the poorest people in rural communities providing them with a source of wood, bracken for bedding and pasture for livestock. At one time nearly half of the land in Britain was common land, but from the C16th onwards the gentry excluded commoners from land which could be ‘improved’ through agriculture. Most common land is now found in areas with low agricultural potential, but with high conservation significance and natural beauty.
[3] The 12 commons involved in the project are:
Dartmoor - Harford and Ugborough, Holne. Lake District – Bampton, Derwent, Kinniside
Shropshire - Long Mynd, Stiperstones, Clee Liberty. Yorkshire Dales - Brant Fell, Grassington Moor, Ingleborough
[4] This project comes at a critical time when common land faces the biggest change in agricultural policy support for three generations, and when there is an urgent need to rectify past ecological damage and create resilience in the face of climate change. Through the Our Upland Commons project (2021—2024) action is being taken on commons in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Shropshire Hills and Dartmoor to.
1.Help farmers futureproof the system of commoning through:
commoners, landowners and agencies developing a shared understanding of management objectives and agreeing details of future common land management
commoners and volunteers repairing and maintaining walling, hedging, fences, sheep pens, and sheepfolds
training will conserve traditional commoning skills and share new ones
collaboration and skill sharing will help increase commons flock health
there’s funding for commoners’ associations to test new ideas and innovations
2. The project is demonstrating how farming, heritage and recreation outcomes can work together through:
outdoor activities including open farm days, walks, talks and events on topics such as biodiversity and archaeology
a national awareness week celebrating commons as iconic landscapes and spaces for enjoyment and recreation
a Case for Commons project pack providing resources for primary and secondary schools
guidelines for recreational users and events such as fundraising challenges
support the development of new Environmental Land Management schemes on commons
3. The project is building climate change resilience and enhancing outcomes for nature:
a Lake District trial of a carbon footprinting tool to reduce farm emissions, aiming for net zero
trials of peatland restoration on commons in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District and Dartmoor
monitoring, interpreting and conserving the historic landscape on commons, including Scheduled Monuments
bracken and gorse management for habitat improvements with cooperative use of tools
works in the Yorkshire Dales and Dartmoor to aid natural flood management, protect habitats and improve water quality
enhancing habitat for butterflies and moths to increase numbers, and improving survey data of key bird species to improve their habitat
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
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