Dartmoor farmers lead major nature recovery scheme backed by government funding

A new farming-led initiative in the centre of Dartmoor is aiming to transform the landscape while supporting the long-term future of farming and wildlife on the moor.

The Central Dartmoor Landscape Recovery project was formed in 2023 by a group of farmers who initially came together with the shared goal of conserving the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly. 

Their ambition has since grown to include a broader vision for nature recovery across a significant part of Dartmoor National Park.

In 2024, the group was awarded funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through its national Landscape Recovery scheme. 

The Central Dartmoor project is one of several pilots being tested across England and will run over a 20-year period.

The scheme covers about 90 square miles, which represents roughly a quarter of Dartmoor National Park.

It includes both in-bye farmland and the surrounding commons.

“There are around 40 landowners and farmers who have signed up to the scheme,” said Philippa Davies, Project Support Officer for the Central Dartmoor Landscape Recovery team. 

“They are united by a belief that working together will bring greater ecological, economic and social benefits than working alone.”

The project is being led by the Central Dartmoor Farm Cluster with support from the Duchy of Cornwall and a wide network of stakeholders. 

These include commoners, conservation groups, community representatives and environmental advisory bodies.

A core team has been appointed to oversee the development phase. 

This includes a project manager, two farm and commons coordinators and a project support officer.

The project’s central aim is to enhance Dartmoor’s landscape and balance ecological health with the sustainability of local farming.

“Our goal is to work closely with farmers, commoners and the local community to shape future land management approaches,” said Ms Davies. 

“We want to develop a shared plan that respects Dartmoor’s cultural heritage and its ecological importance.”

The scheme promises long-term support for farming that is aligned with nature-friendly practices. 

In addition to improving biodiversity, it is also expected to strengthen carbon storage, water quality and resilience to climate change.

“Farmers and landowners will benefit from increased business resilience and a stronger network of collaboration and knowledge-sharing,” Ms Davies said.

In the past year, the team has undertaken a visioning consultation across Dartmoor in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall. 

The consultation was led by a farmer and a landscape architect and has helped to gather views from a wide cross-section of the community.

“This process resulted in some powerful visuals and a book that are now available online through our website,” said Ms Davies. 

“We will continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure the scheme reflects local needs and best practice.”

Funding during this two-year development phase will be used to produce key documents including a land management plan, a governance framework and a strategy for monitoring and evaluation. 

The team will also create a business model for long-term financial sustainability and a plan for engaging stakeholders and managing access across the site.

“In the long run, we want to support the Cluster’s vision of managing farmland in a way that benefits nature, the environment and the local farming community, both now and for generations to come,” Ms Davies said.