DEFRA think the Dartmoor Pixies work for free

Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) has warned of severe financial pressures following what it describes as the largest cut to its government funding in years, prompting one member to accuse ministers of acting as if the mythical Dartmoor Pixie is managing the park’s finances.

At a recent authority meeting, Chief Executive Dr Kevin Bishop revealed that the DNPA’s day-to-day government grant has been slashed by 8.2%, which in real terms becomes closer to 10% when taking into account increased employer National Insurance contributions. The funding reduction, which comes from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), poses a serious threat to the park’s operations and long-term sustainability.

“This is the biggest single cut we’ve had to revenue funding since I’ve been in post,” said Dr Bishop. “We will need to use our reserves this year to avoid immediate restructuring, but that’s not a long-term solution.”

DNPA member Philip Sanders said he is frustrated that, for the second year running, the authority is entering a new financial year without knowing its confirmed funding allocation - a delay he called 'unacceptable' for planning and staffing.

The mood at the meeting turned pointed when Sally Morgan, another DNPA member, criticised the lack of support from DEFRA.

“It makes me proud to be part of this organisation that we are still managing to do really good work under such difficult circumstances,” she said. “But I wonder what DEFRA thinks we are doing? I wonder if they think the Dartmoor Pixie exists? Who do they think is doing all this?”

She praised the delivery of projects across the moor as “superb” despite “shocking” funding levels from central government.

Dartmoor, one of England’s 10 National Parks, was designated in 1951 and is renowned for its wild open moorlands, granite tors, and rich biodiversity. It covers 954 square kilometres, making it the largest open space in southern England. The park is also a vital space for public recreation, education, and conservation.

National Parks across the UK receive core funding from DEFRA to support their statutory duties, which include protecting the landscape, conserving wildlife, and promoting public enjoyment. However, years of real-terms budget reductions have left many park authorities struggling to maintain services and retain staff.

Dr Bishop said that while members have agreed to temporarily plug the funding gap with reserves, the authority cannot sustain this approach indefinitely.

“The key thing for us now is what happens with the government’s spending review, which will be announced in June,” he said. “We hope the government will listen. We would hope that national parks, our finest landscapes, are the government’s top priority, but I’m not certain they are.”

The funding crisis facing Dartmoor is reflective of a wider concern about the future of National Parks in England. According to the Campaign for National Parks, real-terms government funding for National Park Authorities has fallen by around 40% since 2010, leading to staff reductions, cuts to education and conservation programmes, and threats to public access.

Despite repeated calls for increased support, including recommendations from the Glover Review in 2019 which proposed a £20m increase in funding for National Parks, the government has yet to commit to long-term investment.

As Dartmoor enters another uncertain year, park officials and campaigners are urging ministers not to let England’s iconic landscapes suffer from neglect - or fantasy.