The English Uplands
The majority of the English uplands can be found in the north and south-west of England, with a small amount in the counties along the Welsh border. They are nationally and internationally important for biodiversity, as well as being of significant agricultural, landscape, archaeological, recreational, cultural and natural resource value. Agriculture activity has played a large part in shaping these valuable upland landscapes, and continues to provide many of the tools with which to manage them. Further information on land designations within the uplands and map of the Less Favoured Areas.
Specific Upland funding
The Secretary of State has announced the continuation of the Hill Farm Allowance (HFA) in 2009 and 2010. The HFA is a specific support measure for beef and sheep farmers in England’s Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA). It recognises the difficulties that hill farmers face in these regions and the vital role that they play in delivering the landscape and environmental benefits of England’s uplands. It is administered by the Rural Payments Agency.
From 1 July 2010 uplands support will be fully integrated into Environmental Stewardship, through a specific uplands strand of the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship scheme (Uplands ELS). The Secretary of State has now announced full details of Uplands ELS. Further information on specific upland funding.
Grazing Management
Overgrazing, undergrazing and unsuitable supplementary feeding practices can all damage the biodiversity and landscape of our semi-natural grassland, heathlands and woodlands. Grazing management is therefore an essential tool in both the uplands and lowlands of England. Further information on grazing management.
Heather and Grass Burning
The heather and grass burning legislation and code of practice also aim to maintain and enhance the semi-natural environment. While this is predominantly affects uplands areas, it also applies to the lowlands. These aim to provide a contribution to the development of biodiversity by the availability of habitats, and also help in the maintenance of a sustainable upland environment. Further information on heather and grass burning.
Common Land
The majority of common land in England is located within the Uplands. There are over 1,400 designated common land sites representing some 305,000 hectares of land. Further information on common land policy.
Consultations
- “Uplands ELS: Key Questions”. In summer 2008, Defra sought views on the draft proposals for Uplands ELS through an informal “key questions” document [PDF] for stakeholders published in August 2008 and 6 regional meetings with the hill farming community. 52 written responses were received, and over 140 people attended the regional meetings. A summary of the responses received is available. (PDF)
Reports and Statistics
- Report on the Uplands Entry Level Stewardship Farmer survey (PDF) of sixty-six hill farms on the draft Upland ELS proposals carried out by Central Sciences Laboratory in Summer 2008
- Impact Assessment for Uplands Entry level Stewardship (Uplands ELS) (PDF 620 KB)
- Hill Farming Economics – various Defra reports:
- 2005/06 Farm Business Survey – Hill Farming in England – June 2007
- An evaluation of the relative difficulty encountered by upland and lowland grassland farmers in entering ELS (CSL report) – March 2007
- An Assessment of the impacts of hill farming in England on the Economic, Environmental and Social Sustainability of the uplands and more widely – report by the Institute of European Environmental Policy (IEEP) 2004
- Economic Valuation of Environmental Impacts in the Severely Disadvantaged Areas – report by the Economics for the Environment Consultancy Ltd. (eftec) 2005
- Assessment of CAP reform and other key policies on upland farms and land use implications in both Severely Disadvantaged Areas and Disadvantaged Areas of England – report by Cumulus Countryside and Rural Consultants Ltd 2005
- Classification of hill land
- Social capital of traditional hill farming - report by the International Centre for the Uplands - 2005
Contacts/Links
- Defra’s Uplands and Commons Policy team
Area 3C, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR Email: theuplands@defra.gsi.gov.uk - Rural Payments Agency (RPA)
- Natural England
Page last modified:
4 September, 2009
Page published: 24 February, 2005