Published at 13:23, Tuesday, 29 May 2012

By Will Metcalfe

ASOUTH Lakes MP is pressing for measures to protect the income of hill farmers.

Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, has called for a better deal for hill farmers on account of the environmental services they provide.

Mr Farron, chairman of the all party parliamentary group on hill farming, argued ill farmers work to ensure water management and flood prevention, they maintain and protect the carbon sinks of peatland and woodland, they protect and enhance biodiversity and maintain landscapes and ensure access to the countryside.

This week Mr Farron met with Poul Christensen, chairman of Natural England, to discuss future funding for the uplands.

The current funding system, the Upland Entry Level Scheme, provides £25m across the country to pay hill farmers for providing for those ‘goods’.

UELS money comes through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the EU which is currently being renegotiated with changes expected by 2014.

Mr Farron urged Mr Christensen to work with him to ensure funding is protected to allow hill farmers to carry on their work.

Following the meeting Mr Farron said: “For a long time now hill farmers have been massively under appreciated, despite the significant contribution they make to protecting ecosystems; producing food for us to eat and maintaining the countryside.

“I am delighted that Natural England are readjusting their approach to the uplands, with the recent dropping of their ‘Uplands Vision’ and the appointment of Will Cockbain to the board and making efforts to support our hill farmers.

“What we need now is to continue to press for funding for the uplands to be maintained throughout the ongoing negotiations over CAP reform to give our hill farmers the support to keep going.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk